WEBSTER GROVES – One year ago, on the same field against the same opponent, defending state champion Cor Jesu did not score a goal during the first 40 minutes and trailed at halftime.
This year, it only took the Chargers two.
Roz Doherty scored in the second minute, and Cor Jesu played a near flawless game to defeat Nerinx Hall 3-1 and capture the Class 4 District 1 championship in a showdown between the top two ranked teams in Class 4 Thursday at Nerinx Hall.
Cor Jesu (22-0), which won its 37th consecutive match, will face the winner of St. Joseph’s (16-3-1) and Francis Howell North (14-4-2) in a Class 4 quarterfinal on Saturday, May 30.
The Chargers used the memory of their district title scare at Nerinx Hall last season to propel them to a lightning quick start on Thursday. Less than two minutes into the contest, Maddie DiMaria received her first touch along the left sideline, darted to the top of the box and fed a pass across to Doherty, who blasted a left-footed shot into the corner of the net.
“We were happy to score early, and that goal set the tone of the game, but as we were running back, we said, ‘Play like we’re down 1-0 right now.’ We knew we needed to score another one,” Doherty said.
And that mentally kept the Chargers buzzing. First, DiMaria set up freshman Finley Staats for a blast that sailed inches wide, then DiMaria earned a corner kick that resulted in a dangerous Doherty header, and finally, she split a double-team and fired her own shot that scooted just outside the far post. All in the opening 10 minutes.
“We knew it was going to be a battle, so we prepped really hard all week and made sure we came out with fire,” DiMaria said.
The Cor Jesu defense, led by Macy Nicholson, Elin Austin and Chloe Knese prevented quality chances throughout the first half. Except for a pair of midfield free kicks, Nerinx Hall produced little in the attacking third, but the Markers staved off further damage and trailed only 1-0 at halftime.
“We were saying, ‘This is the same (halftime) score as last year,’” Brcic said.
But this time, Nerinx Hall needed to find the equalizer, and the Markers began to produce high-quality chances early in the second half. Senior Ella Russo found a crease through the Cor Jesu defense and ripped a shot just wide. Moments later, a corner kick opportunity pinballed in the box and required a sliding save from Chargers’ goalie Sarah Moore.
Midway through the second half, Cor Jesu junior Ella Fritz made the play that changed the momentum. Pinned near the sideline at midfield, and with teammates pointing for her to send the ball the opposite direction, Fritz wheeled back towards the sideline and scooted a 30-yard pass that DiMaria took in stride.
“I was just really in the moment. I turned around and saw Maddie calling for it, so I figured I might as well hit it down the sideline and it worked out in my favor,” Fritz said.
DiMaria accepted the pass, cruised into the box and sent a cross that Doherty ran onto. With a defender attached to her right hip, the three-year captain outstretched her foot and poked the ball into the corner of the net to give Cor Jesu a 2-0 lead.
“We knew we weren’t going to get clean chances, and when we got our chances, we knew we had to finish them,” Doherty said.
Doherty returned the favor three minutes later, delivering a perfectly-paced pass that DiMaria finished to increase the lead to 3-0 with 17 minutes remaining.
“Roz made a beautiful run down the sideline, and I was just booking it to the box. She set me up perfectly, played me a beautiful ball and I was there to tap it in,” DiMaria said.
DiMaria has scored at least one goal in every game except one and has scored multiple goals in 19 of 22 contests this season.
But Nerinx Hall had no intention of having its season end. Senior Keira Bartholet sent a shot goalward that deflected off a defender and entered the goal crease, where junior Sofia Scego pounced on the rebound to put the Markers on the board. Moments later, Bartholet ripped a shot that required a diving save from Moore that kept the game 3-1.
“We knew they were never going to stop. They definitely kept pushing,” Cor Jesu coach Rachel Brcic said.
Cor Jesu survived the tense final minutes and advanced to the state quarterfinal, where a showdown with defending Class 3 champion St. Joseph’s may occur. For much of the season, Cor Jesu, Nerinx Hall and St. Joseph’s were ranked as the top three teams in the state. Only one will advance to Soccer Park for the state semifinals.
“It’s fun getting to play the hard teams, but in my mind, it would make more sense if the best four teams were in the final four,” Doherty said. “Either way, you have to win games to get there, no matter when you win them.”
And winning is all the Chargers have done since a 4-3 loss to St. Joseph’s on April 23, 2025 – a streak of 37 consecutive wins.
“We just look to win one game at a time,” Doherty said. “We’re excited for the next one.”
For a photo gallery from this game, click on this link: