FENTON, MO – The Fort Zumwalt South girls soccer team makes life easy for the person in charge of Jumbotron graphics at Soccer Park.
Making their fifth consecutive final four appearance, the Bulldogs began their Class 3 state semifinal against Notre Dame de Sion with the calmness of a team comfortable playing on the big stage. But when Zumwalt South freshman Araceli Perez scored a goal three minutes into the match, that calmness turned to ferocity.
“Now, we’re on a roll and we’re in a groove,” sophomore Brielle Gilbert said. “It brought up the effort and the intensity.”
Gilbert scored three goals, and sophomore Allison Wiese captained a swarming back line as Fort Zumwalt South defeated Notre Dame de Sion 4-1 Friday at Soccer Park in Fenton.
Zumwalt South (18-5-1) earned its way to the Class 3 Missouri State High School Athletic Association title game for the fourth time in the past five seasons and will play St. Joseph’s (17-3-2) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Soccer Park in Fenton.
St. Joseph’s defeated Helias Catholic 5-0 in the other Class 3 semifinal.
Fort Zumwalt South jumped ahead in the third minute when junior Mary Morrison delivered a 30-yard cross from the right sideline into the box, where Perez dug it loose and snuck it underneath Notre Dame de Sion junior goalkeeper Merrill Patt.
If the young Bulldogs felt a sense of trepidation at the start of the match, the quick goal produced the opposite of a calming exhale.
“It did not slow the game down, I feel like it brought our energy up,” Gilbert said.
Four minutes later, Gilbert turned and fired a right-footed laser from 14 yards away through a steady rain that slipped through the cupped arms of Patt, squirted under her legs and entered the net for a 2-0 Zumwalt South advantage.
“I was very surprised. I thought she was going to save it, but the turf was really slick so you have to expect anything,” Gilbert said.
In the 18th minute, sophomore Jenna Mehrhoff delivered a pass that Gilbert drove into the net for her second goal of the half to give the Bulldogs a commanding 3-0 lead.
Gilbert displayed outstanding speed both with and without the ball and created numerous opportunities for both herself and her teammates.
“Running into space without getting the ball really helps. Obviously, you’re not going to get the ball every time, but it’s the consistent effort of running into space that creates the chances,” Gilbert said.
Mehrhoff is one of four Bulldogs’ soccer players who also earned a trip to the final four in basketball this winter, including freshman Ella Vaughn, sophomore Gabriella Anderson and junior Bridget Herwick.
“A lot has to do with team chemistry,” Herwick said. “The basketball team chemistry was really good and the soccer chemistry has also been amazing. The team effort is always there and that’s something not every team has. A lot of us who played basketball know how to hold our feelings in, be confident and be calm at the same time.”
Fort Zumwalt South girls basketball story: https://metrosportsstl.com/2025/04/01/class-5-stat-stuffer-vaughn-helps-fort-zumwalt-south-defeat-helias-to-claim-third-place-trophy/
And that calmness was exemplified by sophomore center back Allison Wiese, the only returning defender for the Bulldogs coming into the season. Wiese helped freshman Lucille Dresner and Herwick, a midfielder by trade, understand the intricacies of the position this year.
“I had to adapt to it,” Herwick said. “Allison helped me figure out when to step, when to drop, and how to read plays.”
Wiese added, “It forced us to communicate a lot more, but everyone is so athletic and versatile.”
Late in the first half, Notre Dame de Sion leading scorer Mia Hebert escaped through the defense and scored. It was the first goal surrendered by Fort Zumwalt South since May 6, a total of seven games including the entirety of the playoffs.
“That was a play where we let down and one of their best players was able to capitalize on it,” Wiese said.
But Wiese atoned for the defensive letdown eight minutes into the second half when she sent a pass ahead to a streaking Gilbert, who weaved between a pair of Storm chasers and scored her 22nd goal of the season.
The hat trick goal, as the previous two, resulted in a highly muted celebration that suggested the Bulldogs have more to accomplish before letting out their full emotions.
“You can’t get comfortable,” Gilbert said.
But if any team feels a sense of comfort on championship Saturday it will be the Bulldogs – a program that captured three consecutive state titles at Soccer Park from 2021-23 and is 8-1 in its last nine games at the final four.
“It feels really good to be here. It’s a part of our legacy. I think everyone really feels it,” Wiese said.
Link to a photo gallery from this game: https://benvessa.smugmug.com/Girls-Soccer-2023-24/Girls-Soccer-2025