Soccer

Anna Besand hit a double and scored two runs as a mid-game rally allowed the Perryville softball team to sail away with an 8-2 road win over Chaffee on Monday at Frisco Park in Chaffee, Missouri. Makayla Brown went the distance in the circle to get the win for the Pirates (13-8). She allowed two earned runs and had five strikeouts and two walks...

Kelly Ivy threw a complete-game shutout, allowing just one hit in guiding the Kelly softball team to a 9-0 win over Perryville on Wednesday in Benton, Missouri. Ivy walked one batter and didn't record a strikeout. She helped herself at the plate with an RBI...

SIKESTON – No one expected this. Well, except for maybe Sikeston soccer coach Gabe Dement. He didn’t predict his team would upset Jackson, who is widely considered the best team in the area, but he knew if his group could control two things – their attitude and effort – any opponent they faced could be in for a fight...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The Perryville boys soccer team has been looking for a way to build some consistency and win a one-goal game. Monday afternoon, it solved both those riddles. An early goal set the tone and a late goal turned out to be critical, as the Pirates mostly controlled a game that looked a lot closer on the scoreboard than it was most of the day, dropping visiting St. Francis Borgia 3-2 at Perry Park Center to snap a two-game losing streak...

The Notre Dame softball team posted three consecutive wins on Saturday and downed Parkway South 10-0 in five innings to win the championship of the Jackson Invitational Tournament at the Shawnee Park Sports Complex. Aba Estes hit a triple and drove in two runs to lead the Bulldogs in their championship victory over the Patriots while Alex Lovell added a double and two RBIs...

Anna Besand blasted a triple and drove in three runs to lead the Perryville softball team to a 15-5 victory over Saxony Lutheran on Friday that lasted five innings in Perryville, Missouri.

The Advance volleyball team captured its fifth win in a row, defeating Saxony Lutheran 25-23, 24-26, 25-18 on Thursday at Saxony Lutheran High School. Allie Sprink recorded a double-double to lead the way for the Crusaders, finishing with 15 assists and 15 digs to go along with seven kills. Lexie Barnes also had a double-double for Saxony (12-6), recording 13 kills, 10 assists and eight digs, while Laurel Mueller chipped in 17 digs and five kills...

The Notre Dame volleyball team overcame a 20-17 deficit in both games to eke out a 25-23, 25-23 conference victory over Poplar Bluff on Tuesday in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Alexa Clark's serve clipped the net and fell in to break a 23-all tie in the first game, while her serve helped the Bulldogs rally in the second game...

The past week has been a bit of an adventure for the Jackson boys soccer team, as it twice had to erase multi-goal deficits in order to remain unbeaten on the season. On Tuesday, the Indians made sure a slow start was never an issue. Jackson senior Justice Crosnoe scored just 21 seconds into the game, and the Indians rolled to a 7-1 victory over SEMO conference and district foe Poplar Bluff at Jackson Junior High School...

Lainey Broussard dished out a whopping 42 assists and had four digs as the Jackson volleyball team had to dig deep but eventually found a way to pull out a three-set squeaker over Park Hills Central -- 25-18, 25-27, 25-23 -- on Monday in Park Hills, Missouri...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Nik Rowland had a hat trick before halftime Tuesday as the Poplar Bluff soccer team won its home opener 4-0 against Murphysboro (Ill.) at Mules Stadium. Rowland also had an assist on Wyatt Rowland's second-half goal while Juan Ventura, Alex Ketcherside and Daniel Orozco-Lozano each had an assist for the Mules (3-3)...

The early stretch of the season is for figuring things out, including how to respond when you lose. Fresh off its first loss of the season -- in the championship game of its own tournament, no less -- the Notre Dame boys soccer team battled, clawed and eventually found a 76th-minute game winner from Brent Vandeven as it defeated a ready-and-willing Saxony Lutheran 1-0 on Tuesday evening at Saxony Lutheran High School...

The Jackson boys soccer team got a first-half goal and held on the rest of the way to grab a 1-0 victory over host Notre Dame in the championship of the Notre Dame Soccer Fest on Saturday evening in Cape Girardeau. It was the second year in a row the Indians (5-0) claimed the event title, and in the process handed the Bulldogs (4-1) their first loss of the year...

Kristen Barwick doubled twice and scored two runs as Notre Dame softball beat Van Buren 8-3 to deal their visiting Bulldogs their first loss of the season in the opening round of pool play at the Notre Dame Softball Fest. Ali Lynch went the distance in the circle to take the win for Notre Dame (7-1). She allowed three earned runs, struck out four and walked two...

Lexie Barnes posted a double-double with 10 assists and 10 digs to go along with seven kills, as the Saxony Lutheran volleyball team defeated St. Vincent 25-18, 20-25, 25-18 on Tuesday in Perryville, Missouri. Allie Sprink recorded 13 assists and seven kills for Saxony Lutheran (6-1). Macy Morehead finished with 16 digs and five kills, and Laurel Mueller added five kills and nine digs. Ashley Fritsche notched 12 digs to pace the Crusaders defensively...

The Cape Girardeau Central boys soccer team finished second at the Greg Kline Invitational in Carbondale, Illinois, on Saturday. The Tigers went 2-1 over the two-day tournament.

The Class 2 District 1 boys soccer race has all the makings, on paper, of being wide open this season, and Monday night did nothing to dispel that notion. On a roller-coaster evening that saw Notre Dame trail, then lead, then settle for overtime against St. Pius X, Matt Barnes played the hero, scoring a goal in the second period of extra time to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 win and a leg up in district positioning...

Saxony Lutheran junior Caleb Cornelius offered up a standout performance as he finished fourth in a field of more than 400 cross country runners at the First to the Finish Kickoff Classic on Saturday in Edwardsville, Illinois. Cornelius ran a 16:40.20 to garner a top-five result, just 11 seconds off the winner, Jackson Stewart of Decatur St. Teresa...

Bridgette Swinford blasted a grand slam to lead the Chaffee softball team to its first win of the season, a 17-6 decision against Jefferson on Thursday in Festus, Missouri. Kylie Wilhite was the winning pitcher and also doubled for Chaffee (1-2). She allowed four earned runs and recorded seven strikeouts and one walk...

Class 1 District 1 SEMO Conference Head coach: Max Wieser Assistant coach: Chris Crawford Last season's record: 15-9 Postseason result: Lost to Maplewood-Richmond Heights in state quarterfinal Number of seniors graduated: Six What are your team's strengths?: Good overall team speed, strong senior and junior leadership and experience...

Allison Bray carded a 3-over-par 75 to earn co-medalist honors, as the Notre Dame girls golf team started its season on a high note and clinched the championship of the 13-team Midwest Shootout Classic on Tuesday at Far Oaks Golf Course in Caseyville, Illinois...

When Benjamin Parsons graduated from Notre Dame Regional High School, he appeared poised for success. He was an honor roll fixture academically, and on the soccer field, he had captained his St. Louis Scott Gallagher club team and capped his high school career with a 23-goal season, a Class 2 First-Team All-State nod and a spot as a Semoball Awards finalist...

Before the Cyclones' championship game, emotions began to well up inside of Justin McMullen. It was going to be the last time he coached the team in action, and he went over scenarios in his head leading up to game time. When the final whistle sounded over an hour later, those melancholy feelings were gone, replaced by joy...

The Semoball Cup ended up being a battle of the Bulldogs that needed overtime to decide. Megan Heisserer's golden goal to lift Notre Dame to the Class 2 soccer title also happened to clinch the Cup. In the closest finish in the early history of the award, Notre Dame edged Van Buren by 4.79 points in the standings that determine which area school had the most athletically successful school year...

From across Southeast Missouri, people descended upon Cape Girardeau on Saturday night for the region's premier sports awards show. More than 150 student-athletes from 57 area high schools were on hand for the Fourth Annual Semoball Awards presented by SoutheastHEALTH at the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall on Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus, as awards were handed out in 25 sports categories...

Welcome back for Episode 16 of the Semoball Podcast. We are a week and a half away from the 2017 Semoball Awards at the Southeast Missouri State River Campus, so podcast host and Southeast Missourian sports editor Josh Mlot caught up with two of the finalists set to be honored at the event...

When you're a sophomore in high school, it can be hard to see the forest for the trees. But Notre Dame girls soccer player Megan Heisserer is already growing her own section of the woods. Just two years into her high school career, it's not a stretch to call Heisserer the best attacking player the program has ever seen. At least the most prolific. Barring unforeseen circumstances, by the time she graduates there will be no doubt about her seat upon that throne...

Jersey number: 2 Primary position: Center mid and forward After-graduation plans: Attending Arkansas State University in the fall and majoring in psychology to work toward a masters in behavioral therapy Twitter handle: @callihouse5 Favorite warmup song: "Lose Yourself" by Eminem...

This spring, three area high school teams won state championships. With the success came accolades. Numerous local student-athletes earned recognition, including all-state honors. On the baseball diamond, Bell City won its third straight Class 1 state championship. Along the way, five Cubs earned all-state distinctions...

When Lauren Welker made the commitment to pursue soccer at the club level in St. Louis, she made the commitment to many hours in the car. For a while that included her parents. Now that she's old enough to drive, she gets behind the wheel herself. But regardless of who is driving, she's often had a friendly face to make the road trips less tedious -- fellow Jackson student-athlete Mikala Liley...

Lauren Welker has done a lot of things in her three years playing girls soccer for Jackson. Just this spring she scored 34 goals to help lead the Indians to a second district title in her three seasons in high school. As a result she earned all-conference, all-district, all-region -- she was the All-Region Co-Player of the Year -- and all-state recognition, and was recently announced as a Semoball Awards Girls Soccer Player of the Year finalist...

Ten months after the high school sports calendar began, we now know all 148 of our on-field nominees for the 2017 Semoball Awards. On Friday, the spring sport finalists for baseball, softball, girls soccer, boys and girls track and field, golf and boys tennis for the event -- to be held Saturday, July 8, at the Bedell Performance Center at Southeast Missouri State's River Campus -- were announced as part of a live selection show on SEMO ESPN Radio...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- On the sideline, Notre Dame girls soccer coach Ryan Schweain was holding his breath. On the field, there was no breath left to hold. But exhausted after 90 minutes in the heat and on the biggest stage, sophomore Megan Heisserer offered up one gigantic exhale...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- On the morning of the Class 1 state championship, St. Vincent girls soccer coach Caitlin Pistorio had a decision to make about how she was going to set the tone for her team. The decision she came to was an unorthodox one -- she told her team not to worry about getting scored on...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Championships are won in many moments. Often little ones. Sometimes big ones. For Notre Dame in Thursday's 2-1 extra-time win over Springfield Catholic in the Class 2 girls soccer state championship game in Kansas City, Missouri, it was both...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As just a sophomore, Megan Heisserer is already a handful of strikes away from setting Notre Dame’s career scoring mark. But on Wednesday it was about her creating for others. Heisserer picked up two assists as the Bulldogs did what no one else has been able to do for half a decade, polishing off four-time defending state champion Duchesne 2-0 in a Class 2 girls soccer semifinal at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The wash of relief that swept over the St. Vincent girls soccer team took all words with it. After 79 minutes, 42 seconds of frustration and hand wringing, the final 18 seconds were speechless ones. On the 13th and final shot off the 10th and final corner kick in the 80th and final minute, Kalli Seabaugh found her way on to a bouncing ball in the 18-yard box and smacked a shot into the back of the net, exorcising an afternoon’s worth of frustrations and sending St. ...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- St. Vincent girls soccer coach Caitlin Pistorio wracks her brain trying to come up with interesting tidbits about her program's season; any tantalizing tales that colored the 2017 season. In the end, she's left with little, because this season has been dramatically drama-free for the Indians...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Separated by 36 miles off the field and a classification on it, when the St. Vincent and Notre Dame girls soccer teams arrive in Kansas City this week for the Class 1 and 2 state championships, respectively, the two groups will, nonetheless, be decidedly linked...

The frustration was palpable as the Notre Dame girls soccer team walked off the field. The date was May 21, 2016, and the Bulldogs had just allowed three goals -- two in the second half -- to Notre Dame (St. Louis) in a 3-2 loss in a Class 2 sectional, watching a lead disappear...

We chat with athletes from each of the four state-bound teams this week.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Every time the ball hit the back of the net in the second half, the realization sank in a little more. The St. Vincent girls soccer team turned a close game at halftime into a rollicking, decisive victory in the second half, as it rolled past Maplewood-Richmond Heights 5-0 in a Class 1 quarterfinal on Wednesday at Perryville City Park and into the final four...

ST. LOUIS -- The pickle juice will go to Kansas City. Even if it didn't make it to St. Louis. The Notre Dame girls soccer team beat Rosati-Kain 3-1 in penalty kicks in a Class 2 quarterfinal Wednesday at St. Mary's High School. The match was tied at 1-1 after regulation and two 15-minute overtime periods...

The Jackson girls soccer program's continued search for a Class 4 sectional win will have to wait at least another year. Looking for their first sectional victory since 2003, the Indians let a halftime lead get away as state-ranked Eureka dominated the second half and handed Jackson a 4-1 defeat on Tuesday at Jackson Junior High School...

Midway through the first half, Cape Central forward Mattie Huff picked up the ball near midfield with the Hillsboro defense in front of her. Faced with that unappealing situation, Huff turned it into a goal with a stellar solo effort, dribbling past several defenders and then slotting the ball past the goalkeeper...

The Notre Dame girls soccer team knew what it was like to hold a halftime lead in a sectional and go home broken hearted. On Saturday it made sure to leave that feeling in the past. A year after succumbing to a second-half rally on the road, the Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead into halftime and then held on for a 3-2 win over Lutheran South in a Class 2 sectional at Harry L. Crisp Field at Notre Dame Regional High School...

As the final seconds wore down, the St. Vincent girls soccer team linked arms on the sideline and anxiously eyed the clock. Who could blame the Indians? They'd been waiting for this moment for years. When the final horn sounded, St. Vincent enjoyed every moment of it, celebrating a 4-0 win over rival Saxony Lutheran in the Class 1 District 1 championship Friday at Notre Dame Regional High School...

Jackson girls soccer coach Justin McMullen admitted recapturing the Class 4 District 1 championship Thursday felt a little sweeter after last year's heartbreaking loss in the district title game. Lauren Welker scored a goal midway through the second half on an assist from Natalie Miller, and goalkeeper Sam Schnicker made five saves as the No. 2 Indians defeated host Seckman 1-0 in Imperial, Missouri. The Jaguars were the top seed and had defeated Jackson earlier this season...

The Notre Dame boys volleyball team dropped a 2-1 decision in a thriller against Living Word Christian in a Class 3 District 4 semifinal Thursday in O'Fallon, Missouri. The Bulldogs won the first set 25-23 before falling in back-to-back sets 25-22, 25-20...