Staff photo / Brian Yauger Badger’s Tristan Sawtelle celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal vs. South Range on Thursday in Vernon.

VERNON — Badger had no problem filling the net this season, while South Range’s defense had done a good job keeping balls out of the net.

With a trip to the district finals on the line, something had to give.

After 80 minutes of scoreless play, it was junior Tristan Sawtelle who pushed Badger over the edge, scoring to help the Braves take down South Range 1-0.

In the regular season, Badger had been held to one or zero goals three times. Each was a loss.

Thursday was a different story.

“It was a phenomenal game from start to finish,” Badger coach Scott Smith said. “I have nothing but respect for South Range. They’re traditionally a great program, they’re a great program right now, and (it’s great) being able to prove not just to everybody, but prove it to ourselves that we don’t have to put three or four past somebody to win. We can rely on our defense, and we can rely on everybody on the field.”

South Range goalkeeper Collin Engle didn’t make it easy on the Braves, frustrating Badger with diving save after diving save.

Between Engle making saves when needed and the Raider defenders making life hard for any Badger player that crossed into the attacking third, it was clear that 80 minutes wasn’t going to be enough to decide a winner.

“Our boys were going after him from minute one, and I have nothing but respect for him,” Smith said. “He’s one of the best keepers I’ve personally ever seen. He made phenomenal saves, and it just speaks to this team that he had three or four 1-on-1 saves, and my guys never deviated from it, and they just kept going.”

The Raiders finish their season at 9-10.

With five seniors graduating, including Engle, the goal is to keep building. The seniors have left a legacy for South Range, so now it’s on the returning kids and rising freshmen to keep things progressing.

“These guys played for a district championship as sophomores,” Raiders coach Dan Yargo said. “Colin (Engle) was a starter on the team, and Mason Naples was a starter on that team. The three other guys all started playing soccer in high school. It’s such a wonderful group of guys. We’re still chasing that district championship. It’s been a little while since we got one. But these guys have left the program better than they found it, which, as a coach, that’s the goal.”

Badger (14-5) advances to the Division V, Northeast 2 district final on Saturday, when the Badgers will face No. 16 seed United. Start time is set for 1 p.m. at Sebo Stadium in Salem.