Missouri high school girls soccer state preview: Five KC area teams earn berths
The Missouri high school girls soccer state tournament will take place Friday and Saturday at two sites in Blue Springs. Five Kansas City-area teams will compete: St. Teresa’s Academy, Lee’s Summit, Notre Dame de Sion, St. Pius X and Barstow.
CLASS 4
WHO: St. Teresa’s Academy (20-2-1) vs. St. Joseph’s Academy (23-0)
WHEN/WHERE: 4 p.m. Friday, at Blue Springs South
THINGS TO KNOW: St. Teresa’s Academy is back in the state semifinals for the third straight season after losing the state championship game in 2013 and 2014 — with St. Joseph’s Academy responsible for the latter.
The Stars, whose two losses this season came against out-of-state opponents, appear to be peaking at the right time — they were a perfect 8-0 in May with eight shutouts.
Grace Kitts leads the team with 15 goals this season, and Dorian Bailey has added 12.
UP NEXT: The winner will meet the winner of Lee’s Summit and Francis Howell Central for the Class 4 state championship at 4 p.m. Saturday at Blue Springs South.
CLASS 4
WHO: Lee’s Summit (19-2-2) vs. Francis Howell Central (23-2)
WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m. Friday, at Blue Springs South
THINGS TO KNOW: Searching for its first state title in program history, Lee’s Summit enters the Final Four with one of the stingiest defenses in the state. The Tigers have allowed only eight goals in 23 matches, and goalkeeper Dorothy Bertoncin has posted 17 shutouts this spring.
Lee’s Summit has outscored its opponents 52-8 for the season, with Courtney Killian leading the team with 12 goals this season. Maddie Souder has a team-best nine assists.
UP NEXT: The winner will meet the winner of St. Teresa’s Academy and St. Joseph’s Academy for the Class 4 state championship at 4 p.m. Saturday at Blue Springs South.
CLASS 3
WHO: Notre Dame de Sion (18-4) vs. Webster Groves (27-2)
WHEN/WHERE: 12 p.m. Friday, at Blue Springs South
THINGS TO KNOW: After a three-year hiatus, Notre Dame de Sion qualified for the Final Four in dramatic fashion Saturday, when it scored in overtime to defeat Smithville.
The Storm have presented matchup problems for defenses this year, largely because of a balanced scoring attack. Four players have scored at least 12 goals this season — Anna Romano, Laney Ulowetz, Izzy Romano and Kathleen Gansner — but none have scored more than 15. Over the past six games, Sion has scored 39 goals.
The program last claimed a state title in 2008.
UP NEXT: The winner will meet the winner of Incarnate Word Academy and Rockwood Summit for the Class 3 state championship at 2 p.m. Saturday at Blue Springs South.
CLASS 2
WHO: St. Pius X (20-4) vs. St. Pius X of Festus (25-1)
WHEN/WHERE: 4 p.m. Friday, at Blue Springs High School
THINGS TO KNOW: It’s no surprise the Warriors have reached the state semifinals — they returned all but one player from a team that made the quarterfinals last season.
Senior goalkeeper Anna Lillig is a four-year starter who anchors a defense that set a school record with 16 shutouts this season.
The offense is led by junior forwards Sydney Routh and Allison Malott.
The Warriors are attempting to claim the first state championship in program history.
UP NEXT: The winner will meet the winner of Duchesne and Springfield Catholic for the Class 2 state championship at 4 p.m. Saturday at Blue Springs High School.
CLASS 1
WHO: Barstow (15-2-2) vs. Saxony Lutheran (22-2)
WHEN/WHERE: 12 p.m. Friday, at Blue Springs High School
THINGS TO KNOW: This isn’t exactly familiar territory for Barstow, which has qualified for the state semifinals for only the second time in program history. And the first appearance (2010) concluded with back-to-back losses.
Five years later, the Knights are built on a defense that has allowed only 12 goals this season — only eight of which came during the run of play.
Senior center back Tina Weng leads that back four, with senior Lizzie Mombello serving as the defensive presence in the midfield.
UP NEXT: The winner will meet the winner of Trinity Catholic and Father Tolton for the Class 1 state championship at 2 p.m. Saturday at Blue Springs High School.
This story was originally published June 2, 2015 at 1:06 PM with the headline "Missouri high school girls soccer state preview: Five KC area teams earn berths."