Class 1 girls soccer championship -- Updates & info

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Maddie Brune scored on a corner kick in the 45th minute to put Saxony Lutheran on top, and the Crusaders held on, 1-0, to earn their second straight Class 1 state championship, defeating Trinity Catholic.

Saxony finishes the year at 22-1, while the Titans slip to 14-8-2.

The victors outshot Trinity 18-4 in the game, including 11-0 in the second half.

Saxony Lutheran and Trinity Catholic are scoreless at halftime of a game that's been balanced and back and forth.

The Crusaders have outshot Trinity 7-4.

The best opportunity came for the Titans in the 39th minute, when Katie Leonard put a shot off the far post.

After narrowly escaping thanks to the framework, Saxony had a good look in the final seconds, as a corner kick was headed three times in the box, finally by Grace Mirly on goal. Trinity's Jessica Eaton made the save under pressure.

It's game time in the Class 1 girls soccer championship between Saxony Lutheran (21-1) and Trinity Catholic (14-7-2).

The Crusaders gave injured senior Ali Galemmo and honorary start. She lined up with starters and was announced, but MSHSAA would not allow her on the field during play because she's not cleared by a doctor. Saxony began the game with 10 players.

Here is Saxony's starting 11 (after Galemmo tribute):

Here is Trinity's starting 11:

Mid-day notes (updated as we go):

-- Summit Christian Academy defeated Father Tolton 9-0 in the Class 1 third-place game. Kassi Ginther, a junior for SCA, finished with three goals and three assists, pushing her season goal total to 89 for an MSHSAA single-season record. Tolton was out-shot 16-3.

-- St. Pius X (Kansas City) defeated Notre Dame (St. Louis) 2-1 in the Class 2 third-place game. Sydney Routh scored a pair for St. Pius, both on assists from Allison Malott. Lexi Lanzafame was the lone scorer for ND.

-- The MSHSAA has officially recognized Saxony Lutheran senior Maddie Brune as the goal scorer on the Crusaders first, 27th-minute goal of their semifinal victory over Father Tolton on Wednesday.

Saxony Lutheran (21-1) will take on Trinity Catholic (14-7-2) in the MSHSAA Class 1 girls soccer championship today at 2 p.m.

The Crusaders got here by defeating Father Tolton 8-0 in one semifinal Wednesday, while the Titans edged Summit Christian Academy 3-2.

Saxony is looking to win its second consecutive state title.

Saxony Lutheran statistical leaders:

Grace Mirly -- 26 goals, 24 assists

Tess Daniel -- 23 goals, 7 assists

Maddie Brune -- 20 goals, 18 assists

Trinity Catholic statistical leaders*:

Casey Clark -- 18 goals, 4 assists

Hannah Dietiker -- 11 goals, 5 assists

Morgan Clark -- 7 goals, 12 assists

*Statistics provided by MSHSAA may not be complete

Keys to the game:

-- Saxony Lutheran is a notoriously slow-starting team. Trinity Catholic took a while to find its footing in Wednesday's semifinal. Both teams had much better second halves in the semis. The team that can get into gear earlier and grab the first goal will have a major leg up.

-- The Crusaders will control possession, but set pieces are the great equalizer, and Trinity scored twice on corner kicks against Summit Christian. All it takes is one and the Titans can change the state of the game, especially if it comes early.

-- Trinity will likely play out of a 4-4-2 with forwards Casey Clark and Hannah Dietiker up top. The Titans will want to remain organized defensively and transition quickly to get those two strikers running at the Saxony defense. The pair showed athleticism on Wednesday and the ability to put a lot of pressure on the back line, but at times got isolated. Good possession for the Crusaders can help keep Trinity pinned back and help isolate those strikers. And a day after the Saxony defense essentially got a day off, it will have to try to put in a typically strong performance after struggling at moments in the quarterfinal against Principia last week.

Regarding Wednesday's who-scored-that-goal opener against Father Tolton:

@AZuvanich @Jenny_Brune our score book reads Maddie Brune assisted by Brianna Mueller after review of film and speaking to players involved

— Saxony Girls Soccer (@SaxonyGSoccer) June 2, 2016

The goal came in the 27th minute, putting Saxony Lutheran up 1-0.

The ball was knocked in at the near post off a Brianna Mueller corner kick, with both Ashley Fritsche and Maddie Brune on the scene. In the media room of the press box, the consensus was a Brune goal, but officials stood firm that it was Fritsche's.

Here's the goal in question: