FENTON, MO – One common thread has powered the Blue Springs South girls soccer team through an eight-game winning streak and into the Class 4 state semifinals for the first time.
“All year, we have been a fighting, resilient team,” Jaguars coach Todd Findley said. “We’ve been through the ringer and just keep battling.”
That was evident Friday night.
Blue Springs South rebounded from a series of soul-crushing goals from Eureka and continued to battle, but the Jaguars could not find the equalizer as Eureka defeated the Blue Springs South 3-2 Friday in a Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 4 semifinal at Soccer Park in Fenton.
Eureka (20-3), which won its 12th consecutive game, advanced to face three-time defending state runner-up Nerinx Hall (16-3-1) for the Class 4 championship at 7 p.m. Saturday at Soccer Park.
Blue Springs South (16-5-1) will face Lee’s Summit (15-4-2) in the third-place game at 5 p.m.
Huddling in a steady rain moments before kickoff, the Jaguars were unaware of the sudden storm they would need to weather. In the second minute of action, Eureka freshman Caroline Conley sent a perfect cross to the far post that sophomore Marleigh Allen volleyed into the net for a highlight-reel, opening goal for the Wildcats.
“Great cross, great run on the back side. It took the wind from our sails for a little bit,” Findley said.
But just as they have done all season, the Jaguars dusted themselves off and fought back. A slick passing play from sophomore Mary Hoffman to senior Gwenyth Maggard resulted in a shot that sailed inches wide. Moments later, sophomore Haley Cramer unleashed a rocket from the top of the box that Eureka goalkeeper Stella Eremita batted over the crossbar.
“We were way more aggressive after they scored because that’s what you have to do,” Cramer said.
Cramer, Hoffman and freshman Lexi Edwards continued to create dangerous runs through the midfield as the Jaguars earned a pair of corner kicks and required Eremita to make four quality saves in the first half.
With less than three minutes remaining until halftime, Eureka produced another goal worthy of the highlight-reel. Junior Bailey Flanagan dribbled through the midfield and laid off a pass to senior Callaway Combs, who sent a perfectly-paced through-ball to senior Blaine Schutte.
The play looked almost identical to the game-winning goal Eureka scored in its 1-0 quarterfinal victory over St. Dominic.
“I made the same diagonal run and took it across the body, far post. It was almost the exact same play, it’s kind of funny,” Schutte said.
Trailing 2-0 at halftime in an evenly-played game was no laughing matter for the Jaguars.
“When they scored the second goal, I saw a lot of heads go down, but in the second half we came out with a lot of passion,” Cramer said.
That passion was rewarded when Cramer delivered a corner kick that Maggard headed to the back post and Edwards sent into the net to slice the deficit to 2-1 less than six minutes into the second half.
But just two minutes later, Eureka reclaimed its two-goal cushion when Schutte stole a pass in the midfield and sent Allen on a breakaway to make the score, 3-1.
“We got a goal and had the momentum back, but a really good Eureka team just keeps putting it on you,” Findley said. “I thought that third goal that (Schutte) slotted in there was just a crusher.”
But the resilient Jaguars refused to be crushed.
Cramer lined up another corner kick that found its way through a sea of bodies, glanced off a defender and settled into the back of the net to slice the Jaguars’ deficit to 3-2 with 24 minutes remaining.
“A lot of my goals have come from corners somehow. We have girls in the box bodying people down and it finds its way through. It was lucky for sure, but we’ll take any goal we can get,” said Cramer, who scored her 18th of the season.
Eureka allowed no further luck. The Wildcats’ stifling defense challenged every pass and their hustling offense pinned the ball deep, as Blue Springs South found few scoring chances over the final 20 minutes.
“Eureka was able to hold the ball and eat clock, which is exactly what you’re supposed to do and they did it wonderfully. We just couldn’t get our foot on the ball enough late to get more chances,” Findley said.
Things easily could have gone south for the Jaguars at any number of points on Friday, but that is just not in their DNA.
“I’m just really proud of my girls for fighting back after every goal, never giving up and being resilient,” Findley said.