06/07/2009

FENTON — The Duchesne Pioneers could not have picked a better time for the best game of their 2009 girls' soccer season.

"We played brilliant soccer, and we did it against a real quality opponent,'' Duchesne coach Dave Thurmer said after his team's 4-1 victory over Smithville in the Class 2 championship game Saturday evening at Anheuser-Busch Center. "At times, in the first half, we were putting on a clinic, moving off the ball and making runs to get behind their defense.

"I'm thrilled for all the girls, but especially for our eight seniors. It's great to see them get the title — and to do it in style.''

Ranked sixth among Post-Dispatch small schools, the Pioneers (17-6-1) captured the title after finishing fourth a year ago. Smithville finished 24-4-1.

"When we're healthy, we're as good as anybody,'' said Thurmer, who joins Vince Drake (Aquinas, Aquinas-Mercy), Steve Schad (St. Joseph's Academy, St. Mary's), Dave Robben (Oakville) and Greg Koeller (St. Dominic) as the only area coaches to win boys' and girls' soccer titles.

The Pioneers went up less than 9 minutes in as senior Natalie Henson knocked in a tough-angle rebound.

"We definitely wanted to start strong, and getting that goal right away helped a lot,'' said Duchesne senior Alli Reimer, who assisted on a goal by sophomore Amanda Hubble to make it 2-0.

Just before halftime, Reimer headed in a corner by Lauren Josten, making it 3-0. After Smithville's Erin Robinson made it 3-1 with 12 minutes to play, Reimer, a St. Louis University recruit, headed in another Josten corner kick for the 4-1 final.

"It feels awesome, being able to finish out our careers like this,'' Reimer said.

Defending state champ Notre Dame de Sion (18-5) beat ninth-ranked Notre Dame 3-0 in Saturday's third-place match. The Rebels finished 15-11-1.

St. Vincent 3, Trinity 1: St. Vincent of Perryville started and finished strong in Saturday afternoon's Class 1 final.

"It just seemed like they were a step or so ahead of us all day,'' Trinity coach Vince Drake said. "Perryville's a strong team, and they deserved what they got today.''

The Indians, who scored just 30 seconds into Friday's 4-1 semifinal victory Friday, also set the tone early Saturday, taking the lead less than five minutes into the match as Emily Cissell knocked in a far-post cross from the left side from Storm French.

St. Vincent (20-5) made it 2-0 late in the opening half when Courtney Besand converted a trail pass from Abby Lappe.

Sophomore keeper Taylor Zerbe kept Trinity in the match, coming up with a number of big-time stops. The Titans (18-10) were able to make a game of it midway through the second half on a goal from freshman Jen Eaton.

"When we got it to 2-1, I figured maybe we had a shot,'' Drake said.

But St. Vincent closed out the scoring on a goal from Elizabeth Brueckner.

"We had a great season,'' Drake said. "And we're a young team — we started five freshmen today — so the future looks bright.''

In the Class 1 third-place match, Springfield Catholic (20-7) beat St. Pius of Kansas City (16-10-1) 4-0.