Class 1 girls soccer semifinals -- Updates & info

Check back on semoball.com for a full story about the game...

Saxony Lutheran girls soccer is headed back to the Class 1 state championship after an 8-0 romp over Father Tolton in today's second semifinal.

The Crusaders broke things open early and often in the second half.

Grace Mirly doubled Saxony Lutheran's lead in the 43rd minute after Laurel Mueller turned on the ball and put Mirly in for the goal.

The Crusaders (21-1) exploded after that, scoring three goals in four minutes -- two from Tess Daniel (7th minute, 9th minute) and another from Mirly (11th minute).

If the game was already in control at 5-0, it snowballed even more. Maddie Brune, Taylor Fritsche and Brianna Mueller added goals for the Crusaders.

Saxony will face Trinity Catholic (14-7-2) in the Class 1 state championship Thursday at 2 p.m. The Titans were 3-2 winners over Summit Christian Academy in Wednesday's earlier semifinal.

Father Tolton (12-14) and Summit Christian will face off in Wednesday's 10 a.m. third-place game.

Saxony Lutheran takes a 1-0 edge over Father Tolton into halftime of a Class 1 state semifinal at Swope Park Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri.

Saxony took its lead in the 27th minute off a corner kick by Brianna Mueller, with Ashley Fritsche getting on the end for the advantage.

First half was all Crusaders. Father Tolton had one shot in the half, and none after the first 14 minutes.

Saxony Lutheran's starting 11:

Father Tolton's starting 11:

Trinity Catholic (14-7-2) defeated Summit Christian Academy (18-5) 3-2 in the first semifinal, thanks to a game-winning goal in the second half.

Better second-half organization for Trinity Catholic paid off in the 61st minute when the Titans capitalized on another corner kick. Keppler volleyed the corner toward the near post, where Hannah Dietiker headed it in for a 3-2 lead.

Summit managed just two shots in the second half after getting an edge in play in the first half.

Trinity will face the winner of the second semifinal between Saxony Lutheran and Father Tolton (2 p.m.) in the Class 1 championship at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Summit will face the loser of the second semifinal in a third-place contest at 10 a.m. Thursday.

In the first semifinal, Summit Christian Academy and Trinity Catholic finished the first half tied at 2.

SCA garnered more possession and more consistent attacking pressure, but Trinity's athletic forwards and long-ball approach were enough, and the team took advantage of a set piece to equalize late in the half.

Summit Christian's Kassi Ginther opened the scoring in the third minute, following up her own shot when Trinity Catholic couldn't clear and sliding it in. It was Ginther's 85th goal of the season (an average of nearly 4 goals per game).

Trinity responded in the 10th minute thanks to Kierstyn Weaver.

Ginther got another on a mad scramble on the goal line after a corner kick in the 26th minute to put Summit Christian up 2-1.

Kelsey Keppler locked it at 2-all in the 34th minute, tapping in a corner kick near post.

Summit Christian opened in a 4-3-3. Trinity opened in a 4-4-2.

Saxony Lutheran (20-1) girls soccer is scheduled to face Father Tolton (12-13) in a Class 1 semifinal today at 2 p.m. at the Swope Park Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri.

The winner will face the winner of Trinity Catholic (13-7-2)/Summit Christian(18-4). That semifinal is being played at 12 p.m.

You can read about Saxony Lutheran's return to the state final four here.

I'll provide periodic updates here throughout the day, as well as on my Twitter account.