Role players are an essential part of any successful team. The Hazelwood
Central High girls soccer team (19-8-3) got a major contribution from role
player Katie Maier in Tuesday's 2-1 win over Cape Central (19-7-1) in its class
4A sectional game at Soccer Park.

Maier scored her fourth goal of the season in the 28th minute breaking a
scoreless tie.

Hazelwood Central coach Dean Schulenberg said the goal was the biggest key to
the win.

"A big key was scoring the first goal," Schulenberg said. "Katie Maier is not
a starter, she's a role player and a lot of times it's a role player in the
right place at the right time."

Amanda Ellis set up the goal with a crossing pass into the box. It was Ellis'
14th assist.

"I just saw Mandy cross the ball," Maier said. "Ashley Riggins was in front
of me and I thought it was going to her but I ended up with it."

Maier's goal came just minutes after she entered the game.

"It makes a coach look good to have that situation," Schulenberg said."With a
big field and this humidity you need to sub in a lot of fresh bodies. You never
know when a game like this will go four overtimes and Katie scored what was
probably the biggest goal of her career."

Ellis had come close to breaking the scoreless tie herself earlier. She hit a
cross bar once and had two good chances in the 26th and 27th minutes.

Hazelwood Central struck again in the 56th minute. Valerie Henderson headed
the ball on a corner kick off the cross bar. Christina Bologna picked up the
loose ball in front and scored her 10th goal of the season.

Hazelwood Central would need the insurance goal. In the 75th minute Cape
Central's Trishia Klipfel faked two Hazelwood Central defenders causing them to
collide. Klipfel walked in alone and scored, cutting the lead to one.

Hazelwood Central may have lost more than a goal on the play. Defenseman
Katie Flower, involved in the collision, was injured on the play.

"I don't know how serious it is," Schulenberg said.

Hazelwood Central advances to play St. Charles West in the quarterfinals on
Saturday at Soccer Park. Hazelwood Central has played St. Charles West twice
this season, splitting the two games.