The Missouri State Field Hockey Tournament established its final four teams Tuesday after (1) Villa Duchesne, (2) MICDS, (3) John Burroughs and (5) Ladue claimed victories during the quarterfinal round.
How their opponents arrived at the quarterfinal round was the result of one of the wildest days of mayhem in state playoff history.
Saturday – 9:42 a.m. – Westminster vs. Summit – Round of 16 – at Villa Duchesne
Westminster sophomore Gia Cullum, who had split her time between junior varsity and varsity during the season, entered the field as a substitute in the fourth quarter of a 1-1 tie against Summit.
When teammate Sydney Simmons carried the ball into the circle, Cullum instinctively parked herself at the far post and watched as a pass from Simmons headed her way.
“She slid the ball over to me and I reversed it in. I didn’t think it was going in because it was going slow, but it rolled over the line,” said Cullum, who scored with less than two minutes remaining.
The Wildcats were ousted from the playoffs in the round of 16 the previous two seasons, making Cullum’s goal even more special.
“As soon as we saw that ball trickle in, we all ran to Gia with the biggest arms and had the biggest dogpile, even bigger than actually winning,” said Campbell, who played in a state quarterfinal as a freshman. “We were just so excited to have one more game.”
Summit had scored first when Frankie Neil converted a stroke in the first quarter before Campbell answered with a goal before halftime, setting up a thrilling, back-and-forth second half that was decided by Cullum’s first career varsity goal.
“It was a very even game. There were a couple bounces that could have gone either direction,” Westminster coach Nancy Schmer said. “It was a battle, which made the victory that much sweeter.”
She added, “When we came off the field, I said, ‘You’re not going to remember a lot about your high school career, but you will remember this moment.’”
Against No. 1 seed Villa Duchesne in the state quarterfinal, the Westminster defense held the Saints to one goal through the first quarter and trailed only 3-0 at halftime. In the fourth quarter, junior Olivia Whitley scored off a corner to put the Wildcats on the scoreboard against a team that earned 16 shutouts in its first 23 games.
In the end, Villa Duchesne (23-1) proved to be too much, as seven different players scored goals in a 7-1 quarterfinal victory.
“To put up a good fight against Villa and score against them is a big accomplishment,” Campbell said. “I’m really proud of the way we played.”
Saturday – 12:15 p.m. – Ursuline vs Lafayette – Round of 16 – at MICDS
Ursuline senior captain Lulu Pittilo raked the ball from a slew of players piled in the goal crease and took a breath. The Bears’ battle with Lafayette was tied 1-1 late in the fourth quarter when Pittolo arrived at the goal crease during a corner opportunity and dislodged a ball that had momentarily disappeared under bodies.
“Everyone crowded the goal, their defense came in, and I lifted it over everybody into the top,” Pittolo said.
Pittolo’s late goal proved to be the difference as No. 10 seed Ursuline slid past No. 7 Lafayette by holding the Lancers over the scoreboard in the final minutes.
“That gave us the spark. Everybody had the drive to make sure we finished strong and won the game,” Pitillo said.
In the quarterfinal matchup Tuesday, MICDS junior Victoria Noble, who scored four goals against Ursuline in a state quarterfinal last season, repeated her four-goal performance in a 5-1 Rams’ victory.
Noble already had notched a hat trick midway through the first quarter, but Ursuline, led by brilliant goalkeeping from senior Morgan Hollenberg, held the Rams scoreless for the next 39 minutes until MICDS junior Mallory Jerlecki scored early in the fourth quarter.
“I faced a lot of adversity throughout the season, and I wasn’t going to let my final game be a blowout. I wanted to fight for every ball I could,” Hollenberg said.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Pittolo sent a pass through the circle that junior Lexi Nichol blasted into the cage to put Ursuline on the scoreboard – a fitting moment for a team that won eight consecutive games in October, won a thrilling game in the Round of 16 and put up a strong fight against a high-powered MICDS team.
“It was lot of leadership and trust in the growth of the girls,” said Pittolo, one of only three seniors. “We are all in the same boat. Even though our personalities are different, we all were able to work together as a unit and unite as a team.”
Saturday – 3:32 p.m. Kirkwood vs Visitation – Round of 16 – at John Burroughs
Kirkwood senior Bella Mosley stood at the stroke spot and looked at one corner of the net, then looked away.
The Pioneers’ round of 16 battle with Visitation had reached double overtime after teammate Avery Musselman tied the game with a dramatic goal in the final 90 seconds of regulation.
With 1v1s looming, Mosley earned a stroke in the 90 seconds of double overtime after her shot eluded the pads of Visitation goalie Lauren Jane Masson and struck the foot of a Lafayette defender in the goal crease.
Masson, the area leader in saves by a large margin, stood in the Visitation goal crease looking for clues from Mosley. Both teams understood that the best chance for Kirkwood to advance was on Mosley’s stick at that moment.
“Their goalie, LJ, is absurd. She’s fantastic. We knew we could not go to 1v1s,” Musselman said.
Mosley, who had success on stroke opportunities with her club team, embraced the moment.
“I felt confident,” said Mosley, a Bryn Mawr commit. “I stared at the left corner, then shot right.”
Mosley’s shot found the back of the cage and sent the Pioneers into a frenzy of celebration and into the state quarterfinal round for the second time in three seasons.
“We love each other so much, and we were so happy that we got to spend two more days together,” said Musselman, a UC-Davis commit.
Against No. 3 seed John Burroughs in the quarterfinal, Kirkwood earned three corners in the first 10 minutes and went toe-to-toe with the Bombers, but USA National Team members Finnley Desloge and Lila Merlin combined for five goals and powered John Burroughs to a 7-0 victory.
Kirkwood freshman goalie Claire Cresswell made 12 saves, including several spectacular ones and the Pioneers walked off the field at Sport Port with their heads held high.
“You could tell everyone on the field was working as hard as they could. We’re really proud of how we played, and so proud of each other,” Musselman said.
Missouri State Field Hockey Playoff Schedule
State Semifinals
Thursday, Oct. 29 at Sport Port
1 p.m. (5) Ladue (16-5) vs. (1) Villa Duchesne (23-1)
2:45 p.m. (3) John Burroughs (17-2) vs. (2) MICDS (17-3-1)
Championship game
Saturday, Oct. 31 at Sport Port at 11 a.m.
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