Soccer

SIKESTON — The Sikeston boys soccer team returns to action after coming off of a 9-15-1 season, in 2017, and are looking for a better result this campaign, under head coach Gabe Dement — who enters his 10th season with the Bulldogs and fifth as head coach of the Bulldogs...

No longer will Missouri high schools have to wait to see an enrollment spike or drop take effect. Beginning this year, the Missouri State High School Activities Association will release new class and district assignments annually. The goal is to make sure schools of similar size are competing against one another, accounting for sudden, drastic shifts in student enrollment...

A trio of Saxony Lutheran girls soccer standouts were named to the 2017-18 Lutheran All-America first team, which was released Monday. Crusader seniors Laurel Mueller (forward) and Ashley Fritsche (goalkeeper), along with sophomore midfielder Emma Brune, received top honors...

Student-athletes from across Southeast Missouri were recognized for their outstanding achievements Saturday night at the region’s premier sports award show. More than 150 athletes from 57 area high schools were on hand for the Fifth Annual Semoball Awards presented by SoutheastHEALTH at the Donald C. ...

The wait is finally over. The fifth Annual Semoball Awards presented by SoutheastHEALTH kicks off Saturday. Southeast Missouri's premier sports award show will welcome more than 150 student-athletes from 57 area high schools to the Bedell Performance Hall on Southeast Missouri State's River Campus for an evening of recognition and celebration...

Lauren Welker doesn't remember the first time she was exposed to Southeast Missouri State soccer. That's because it's just always been there, omnipresent in her backyard and linking her past to her present to her future. The Jackson standout remembers her early days in the sport, going to Southeast soccer camps and playing for Southeast Missouri Soccer Club; she remembers running drills for Paul Nelson, assistant coach at SEMO and SMSC's guiding force, as she built her foundation in the sport...

Meet the 12 members...

Less than a month ago, Oran baseball and St. Vincent girls soccer won Class 1 state championships, capping off a successful spring for area schools. Four teams, three in girls soccer and one in baseball, advanced to the final four with Jackson girls soccer making history by reaching state for the first time in program history...

After 10 months, the list is complete. On Monday, the 45 spring sport finalists for the 2018 Semoball Awards were announced during a selection show live on air on SEMO ESPN Radio 1220 AM. In addition to those individual student-athletes, 15 additional nominees were revealed for Coach of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year and Sportsmanship, plus the Lifetime Achievement Award winner...

Sikeston’s Lyndsey McClendon earned a spot on the SEMO All-Conference team on Tuesday. The senior anchored the Bulldogs defense all the way to a No. 1-seed in the Class 3, District 1 tournament. Head coach Gabe Dement said that McClendon was “a shutdown defender with an incredible skill set.”...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Eureka, what a shot. Eureka's Sam Courtois swung her leg and let the corner kick fly toward Jackson's net, about 45 yards away. Players on both sides stared skyward and braced themselves near the mouth of the goal for the ball, which was curling toward them all. Opponents jumped and necks stiffened anticipating a header, and Jackson goalkeeper Emily Hermann put up her arms and kept her eyes wide...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Twice in overtime of the Class 4 girls soccer state semifinal, Jackson goalkeeper Emily Hermann came up with big stops on shot attempts by Park Hill forward Alison Walls. The first, after Walls tried a blast from about 15 yards, was a one-handed punch, which Hermann hit straight up into the air and controlled herself. The second was a dive to her right on a much closer shot...

On Thursday, the St. Vincent girls soccer team won a second consecutive state championship, making it four straight years in which a local team has won the Class 1 title -- two by Saxony Lutheran followed by two by the Indians. Meanwhile, in Class 2, 2017 champion Notre Dame played for the top prize again, but suffered late heartbreak in the title game...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Notre Dame did not repeat as champions in Class 2 girls soccer, but after nearly 70 scoreless minutes in the final, it took an incredible shot by O'Fallon Christian to beat them Thursday afternoon. Sophomore striker Eylessa Kellam, using what she described as something of a "half-bicycle kick," scored with her back to keeper Grace Powderly, stuffing the ball just inside the left post from about six yards away...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- After scoring a goal in the Class 1 girls soccer semifinals, St. Vincent senior Corin Carroll made what seemed like a half-joke about finally finding the back of the net at state. The year before, when St. Vincent won the championship, Carroll settled for setting up her teammates to score...

A smile creeps across the face of Jackson girls soccer coach Justin McMullen as he turns through the memories in his head, reaching back to a time nearly 10 years ago. His 2018 squad features only two seniors, but his history with them is long and fruitful...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Coaches and athletes set aside sizeable portions of their lives training in order to get the most out of the high-school soccer experience. And yet nothing can fully prepare any coach or athlete for when something goes horribly wrong...

KANSAS CITY, Mo -- The St. Vincent girls soccer team always tries to remember its club motto, "First Five," at the same key points of any game they play. They're the first five minutes of any half, or right after somebody scores a goal. Those are the most dangerous times of any match, forward Corin Carroll said, moments when confidence and momentum can get magnified and things can get out of control. ...

Sikeston seniors Annie Ensor and Mackenzie Yant earned soccer Class 3, District 1 All-District first team honors on Tuesday leading Sikeston’s four all-district selections. Ensor had one goal and two assists on the season, while Yant finished with six goals and a team-leading 13 assists. Yant also led the team in points — with 25...

Winning a state championship is a transcendent experience, but every team internalizes it differently. A year ago, the Notre Dame girls soccer team captured its first state title in thrilling fashion, when it defeated Springfield Catholic 2-1 with a golden goal in extra time of the Class 2 state championship. But months later, when the dust settled, a group that returned nine of 11 starters had to figure out how to move on...

As the Jackson girls soccer team huddled together after 80 hot, thrilling and nerve-wracking minutes, coach Justin McMullen had one word for his team: "four." As in final four. That's where the Indians are headed for the first time in program history following a 4-3 win over Fort Zumwalt West in a Class 4 quarterfinal Saturday afternoon at Jackson Junior High School...

Cape Girardeau Central girls soccer fell just short of a repeat quarterfinal appearance Wednesday. The Tigers' season ended with a 4-1 loss to Hillsboro in a Class 3 sectional in Hillsboro, Missouri. They finish the year with a 7-13-1 record. The Hawks (18-10) avenged last year's sectional loss to Central and advance to face Rockwood Summit (16-2-3) in a state quarterfinal at 11 a.m. Saturday in Fenton, Missouri...

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. -- St. Vincent gladly accepted another challenge Wednesday in its continued defense of the Class 1 girls soccer state title it won almost exactly a year ago. That's how it's been all season for coach Caitlin Pistorio's team, after all...

The Notre Dame bench had been standing on the sideline for most of the game. Now, as the clock struck zero and the final buzzer sounded, they rushed onto the field, screaming with joy. Just past midfield, they met the Bulldogs' starters, and the two groups melded into a jumping mass of white and blue...

FLORISSANT, Mo. -- The last time the Jackson girls soccer program won a sectional game, most of the current Indians were in diapers. On Tuesday, Jackson broke through the glass ceiling that has capped its postseason runs the past 15 years, romping past Hazelwood Central 7-0 in a Class 4 sectional at the James Eagan Center Soccer Field and into a state quarterfinal for the first time since 2003...

ST. LOUIS -- The Notre Dame girls soccer team knows as well as anyone that when you're trying to win a state title, sometimes you just have to emerge from the mayhem to survive. Last year, the Bulldogs did that and lifted a trophy. Two years ago, they didn't...

Last year, Cape Girardeau Central girls soccer did something it hadn't accomplished in over a decade: win a district title. So heading into this season, the Tigers were focused on defending their crown. They persevered through an up-and-down season, which saw them enter the postseason with more than twice as many losses as wins. They were rewarded for that perseverance...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Winning district titles is all Megan Heisserer has every known. That didn't change Wednesday. Heisserer bagged a hat trick, and the top-seeded Notre Dame girls soccer team cruised past second-seeded Perryville 4-0 in the Class 2 District 1 championship at The Bank of Missouri Soccer Complex...

A late first-half goal from Natalie Miller was enough as the Jackson girls soccer team captured its second consecutive district title Wednesday. Miller scored with about three minutes left in the first half and the second-seeded Indians held on to beat top-seeded Northwest (Cedar Hill) 1-0 in the Class 4 District 1 championship in Poplar Bluff, Missouri...

BENTON, Mo. -- The champion out of Class 1 District 1 has won the girls soccer state championship in each of the last three years. St. Vincent hopes that number becomes four. The defending state champion Indians got a decisive goal with 1.4 seconds left on the first-half clock and held on to defeat rival Saxony Lutheran 2-1 for the district championship Wednesday at Kelly High School...

Bryce Hahs belted a triple and drove in two runs as the fourth-seeded Oak Ridge baseball team dealt a crushing upset to top-seeded Valley (Caledonia) in its 8-5 semifinal victory Tuesday in the Class 1 District 3 Tournament in Annapolis, Missouri. Jordan Barker went the distance on the mound to pick up the win for the BlueJays (7-16). He allowed five earned runs and recorded 14 strikeouts and one walk...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — An early goal from Sikeston sophomore Megan Witt was not enough for the top-seeded Bulldogs in their 2-1 loss to the No. 4-seed Farmington on Tuesday during a Class 3, District 1 Tournament semifinal at Cape Central High School in Cape Girardeau, Mo...

Will Ferrell tossed a one-hit shutout as second-seeded Notre Dame baseball cruised past No. 3 Kennett in a Class 4 District 1 Tournament semifinal Monday in Sikeston, Missouri. Ferrell notched 12 strikeouts with no walks for the Bulldogs (16-12), who took an early lead with three runs in the first two innings...

Notre Dame boys volleyball went on the road and picked up a convincing sweep, 25-16 and 25-13, of Metro-East Lutheran on Thursday night in Edwardsville, Illinois. Alex Dow and A.J. Stroup each had four kills to lead the Bulldogs in the victory. Alex Burger recorded 12 assists and eight digs for Notre Dame. John Scherer contributed seven digs for the Bulldogs, who will wrap up their regular season during tonight's senior night match at home with Webster Groves...

SIKESTON — Sophomore Arika Buxton’s two goals was all that the Fredericktown girls soccer team needed to beat Sikeston at Sikeston on Thursday 2-0. The Lady Bulldogs struggled to get in a groove but had ample opportunities to score. Sikeston (8-11-1) finished the game with 14 total shots and 10 shots on goal. The Ladycats, though, were just that more aggressive, as they finished with 21 total shots and 13 shots on goal...

Bryce Morgan and Jonathon Tyler combined to shut out the Meadow Heights baseball team as visiting Kelly soared to a 2-0 win in the regular-season finale on Wednesday in Patton, Missouri. Morgan went six innings to get the win, striking out four and scattering three hits and one walk. Tyler pitched the seventh to get the save...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- What a difference a year makes. Perryville girls soccer finished last season with a 4-15 record, capped by a blowout loss to Notre Dame in the district tournament. Almost a year to the date of that contest, the Pirates wrapped up the regular-season slate Tuesday with their 14th win, a 3-2 comeback victory over Saxony Lutheran at The Bank of Missouri Soccer Complex, ending the Crusaders' nine-match unbeaten run...

The top-seeded Notre Dame boys tennis team only dropped one match in the singles in its 5-1 semifinal victory over fourth-seeded North County to advance to today's Class 1 District 1 Team Tournament championship. The Bulldogs will host second-seeded Dexter at 4 p.m. today for the district title. The Bearcats downed third-seeded Sikeston in their semifinal to proceed to the championship match...

BONNE TERRE, Mo. – Sophomore Kylie Lossing had a hat trick during the Sikeston girls soccer team’s 4-0 shutout over North County on Tuesday on the road. Mackenzie Yant added one goal and two assists, while Emma Jones chipped in another two assists. Sikeston, who will host Fredericktown on Thursday, moved to 8-10-1 on the season...

The St. Vincent boys track and field team placed first in five events en route to claiming the district championship at the Class 2 District 1 meet at Cape Girardeau Central High School on Saturday. Trevor Lukefahr posted two first-place times of 22.43 seconds and 50.74 seconds in the 200 and 400 dashes, respectively, to help lead St. ...

Breven Yarbro belted a home run, a double and finished with four RBIs as Chaffee held off Cooter for a 7-4 victory at Capaha Field in baseball action Friday. Yarbro went 2-for-4 to lead the nine-hit attack for Chaffee (17-1). Gabe Henson, Landon Tenkhoff and Austin Copeland also had two hits for the Red Devils, who struck for three runs in the first inning and led throughout. A.J. Owens added a double in the win...

On what was the stickiest, most humid day of the season yet, the Saxony Lutheran girls soccer team made things even more uncomfortable for Cape Girardeau Central, scoring a trio of early goals and rolling to a 5-0 victory Friday at Shawnee Park in Cape Girardeau...

ZALMA, Mo. — East Prairie defeated Zalma, 10-3, on Wednesday at Zalma High School. Luke Marcum provided support not only at the plate but on the mound as well. At the plate, Marcum went 3-for-4 and led East Prairie (8-6) in hits. On the mound, he was also sensational, as he gave up one earned run on five hits...

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. – The top-seeded Portageville softball team didn't have much trouble capturing their second-straight district championship. The Bulldogs rolled past sixth-seeded Cooter 18-1 on Wednesday to win the Class 1, District 1 Tournament in Caruthersville, Mo...

Derek Kirn belted a two-run home run as the Perryville baseball team clinched the regular-season conference championship with a 7-3 victory over Windsor on the road in Imperial, Missouri, on Tuesday. Trent Unterreiner was the winning pitcher and had a double and two RBIs for the Pirates (12-7, 4-0 JCAA Conference-Large Schools Division). He gave up three earned runs on seven hits and recorded seven strikeouts and two walks...

Rylee Venable had a home run and four RBIs to lead the top-seeded Scott City softball team to a 13-3 semifinal victory over fourth-seeded Advance in the Class 1 District 4 Tournament at Oran. Kaileigh Dirden was the winning pitcher and also doubled and drove in three runs for Scott City (16-3). She threw a complete game and allowed three earned runs with eight strikeouts and no walks...

SIKESTON — Seniors were honored on Monday night as the Sikeston girls soccer team defeated the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules 2-0 at the Sikeston Sports Complex in Sikeston. Both of the Bulldogs’ goals were scored by sophomore Kylie Lossing, who scored one goal at the 18th minute and one at the 72nd minute. Lossing now has a team-leading eight goals on the season, as she passed junior Emma Jones, who has six...

Reid James got on base two of his four times at the plate as the fifth-seeded Notre Dame baseball team rebounded from a tough opening-round loss a day earlier to pick up a 5-2 win over eighth-seeded New Madrid County Central in a consolation semifinal of the SEMO Conference Tournament at Cape Girardeau Central High School on Saturday...

The third-seeded Kennett Indians struck for three runs in the third inning Saturday and beat seventh-seeded Dexter 5-2 in a consolation semifinal of the SEMO Conference Baseball Tournament at Cape Central High School. The Indians will face Notre Dame in the fifth-place game at 2:15 p.m. Monday. Dexter (3-12) will meet New Madrid County Central for seventh place at noon Monday. Both games will be played at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau...