FENTON – Tolton Catholic girls soccer coach Chuck Register stepped onto the turf at Soccer Park hoping this time would be different.
Making his 11th trip to the final four in his coaching career, Register optimistically wondered if this was the year for that elusive, first state championship.
“Sometimes you come here and these teams are just a little bit better,” Register said. “But I had a feeling about this team, that they were the right ones to get us there.”
Sophomore Ava Martin scored the game-winning goal, and the Trailblazers pitched their sixth consecutive shutout as Tolton Catholic defeated Villa Duchesne 1-0 to win the Missouri Class 1 girls soccer state championship Saturday at Soccer Park in Fenton.
Tolton Catholic (18-8-1) captured its first state title in girls soccer with a potent blend of speed and skill, led by senior captain Kensie Serio in the midfield.
Wearing a brace after suffering a hyperextended left knee earlier in the postseason, Serio became an orchestra conductor offensively and a pestering menace defensively.
“We possessed the ball well, and we really worked well as a team,” Serio said.
Twice during the first half, Serio sent junior Adelaide Devine into the clear with perfectly-paced passes, but both times Villa Duchesne freshman Margot Leary raced to catch up.
Leary thwarted one scoring chance with a blocked shot and another with a stellar slide tackle inside the box, but the overall quickness of Tolton Catholic became apparent from the start.
“Speed-wise, they’re on pace with any of the bigger schools we’ve played,” Villa Duchesne coach Steve Stoll said. “We haven’t played a team that fast for a while.”
The Tolton defense was equally impressive. Junior Zoey Martinez consistently rebuffed the Villa Duchesne attack down the left side of the field while juniors Claire Condict and Ava Martin turned away passes that the Saints attempted to send over the top.
“I think they probably thought we were everywhere,” Register said. “Today, we played great cover defense.”
Villa Duchesne (10-12-1) was also seeking its first state championship. The Saints produced two excellent scoring chances early in the second half, but shots by junior Olivia Decker and senior Anna Winter were denied by Tolton goalkeeper Rachel Tipton, who recorded five saves.
“She’s a great keeper. She’s been starting since district play as a freshman and she’s improved every year,” Register said.
But near the midpoint of the second half, the danger of the Father Tolton scoring chances increased. An excellent cross from sophomore Madison Taylor found the right foot of Serio, but her shot was knocked aside by Villa Duchesne junior goalkeeper Grace Benac.
The resulting Tolton corner kick squirted through the grasp of Benac and bounced twice in the crease before it was cleared off the goal line by the Saints’ defense.
Moments later, Tolton Catholic earned a free kick that sophomore Ava Martin measured from 27 yards away.
“I tried to put it on goal, and we wanted to have someone there to follow it up in case the goalie knocked it away,” said Martin.
Martin unleashed a bending shot that avoided Villa Duchesne defenders and headed towards the net. With Serio charging, the ball slid through the grasp of Benac and entered the lower corner of the net to give Father Tolton the lead in the 57th minute.
Seven minutes later, a red card was administered to a Saints’ player who initiated a hard collision in the midfield.
The foul required Villa Duchesne to negotiate the final 16 minutes with only 10 players on the field, but that did not prevent sophomore Izzy Miller and the Saints from mounting a final push.
With her back to the net, Miller sent a header goalward that sailed inches wide. Moments later, she blasted a shot that required a courageous block by Condict.
“When you get to this part of the tournament, that is what you expect – both teams have speed, both teams know how to play the right way – it’s what you hope for in a final,” Stoll said.
A final free kick attempt by Villa sophomore Allison Frame became the fifth and final save for Tipton, who notched her 12th shutout of the season. Tipton and the Trailblazers did not surrender a goal throughout the entire postseason.
“We worked so hard for this all year. Everybody did their part, and it feels really good to finally get that win,” Serio said.
Martin added, “It’s amazing. I’m so glad we did this.”
And after taking eight Helias soccer teams to the final four and three from Tolton Catholic, Register received a memorable 543rd career victory and the most refreshing Gatorade bath of his illustrious career.
“You come here with a lot of expectations and you try to get your team ready, and after a second, a third and a lot of fourths, it’s great to finally get over the hump,” Register said.
