Sisters combine for Notre Dame de Sion’s winning goal in Missouri girls soccer state semifinal

As Notre Dame de Sion High School midfielder Izzy Romano lined up a free kick in the Missouri Class 3 girls soccer state semifinals on Friday, with the scoreboard showing only six minutes left in a tie match, her sister, Anna, crept toward the back post.

“I didn’t have to ask her — I knew that’s where she was going with it,” Anna said.

The ball arrived only a few seconds later, and while Webster Groves goalkeeper Charlotte Kennedy managed to deflect it, the rebound chance didn’t drift far.

Anna was there waiting for it.

She sent home the rebound chance, her second goal of the match, which lifted Notre Dame de Sion to a 2-1 victory against Webster Groves.

The Storm, 19-4, will play for the Missouri Class 3 state championship at 2 p.m. Saturday at Blue Springs South High School.

It’s the second straight game-winning goal for Romano, who supplied a golden goal in overtime last weekend in the Missouri Class 3 sectionals against Smithville.

“It’s been kind of a crazy seven days — a lot of emotional moments,” Anna said. “It’s just been a whirlwind. I don’t even know how to explain it.”

Webster Groves, 27-3, had allowed only one goal since April 25 — a stretch of 13 matches — before Romano struck in the 46th minute Friday to tie the match.

Webster Groves junior Alexandra Harper opened the scoring 19 minutes into the match.

“We had our chances early, so at halftime, I told the girls it was going to happen,” Sion coach Matt Darby said. “Because of how we were playing, I was actually more confident about winning than I was before the match, even though we were down a goal.”

This story was originally published June 5, 2015 at 3:11 PM with the headline "Sisters combine for Notre Dame de Sion’s winning goal in Missouri girls soccer state semifinal."