Notre Dame soccer team blanks Farmington

Allyson Bradshaw ran plenty of give-and-go plays as an all-state basketball guard for Notre Dame.

Bradshaw was involved in a pretty give-and-go on the soccer field Thursday, scoring the winning goal as the Bulldogs ended the regular season with a 2-0 home victory over Farmington.

Bradshaw, a senior, and freshman Shelby Beussink combined for the key play as Notre Dame improved to 7-7 and dropped the Knights to 12-7.

"It's kind of [like basketball]," said a smiling Bradshaw. "We work on it almost every day in practice. It worked perfect, just like we practiced."

After a scoreless first half, the Bulldogs struck with 24 minutes, 39 seconds remaining.

Notre Dame's Miranda Fowler, right, congratulates Allyson Bradshaw on a second-half goal against Farmington on Thursday at Notre Dame. More photos from the game can be viewed online at semoball.com. (Laura Simon)

Bradshaw fed a short pass to Beussink and cut toward the net. Beussink gave the ball right back to Bradshaw, who was all alone along the left side about 15 yards from the goal. Her shot found the far corner.

"Pretty much all we do in practice is work on possession, give-and-go," Beussink said. "If it doesn't work the first time, try it again."

Notre Dame coach Jeff Worley said the goal exemplified the way the Bulldogs have to play to be successful.

"We just don't have any one player that will dribble through three or four players," Worley said. "We have to work together. That play was an example of that."

Notre Dame controlled virtually all of the play but failed to capitalize on numerous strong chances throughout the contest.

Notre Dame's Amber Humphrey (11) and Farmington's Emily Mosier take a spill during the second half Thursday at Notre Dame.

The Bulldogs finally added an insurance goal with just 1:17 left when freshman Abby Boyer tapped in a rebound. Sophomore Miranda Fowler was credited with an assist.

"We possessed really well today," Bradshaw said. "We didn't possess too good early in the week against St. Vincent [a Notre Dame loss] and we really worked on it."

Freshman goalkeeper Madison Buelow saw little action between the pipes to record the shutout.

"Lots of possession. [Farmington] chased a lot," Worley said. "I was pretty pleased with the way we played."

Farmington coach Rusty Sancegraw came away impressed by the Bulldogs.

"They played well. They really moved the ball around well and were very disciplined," said Sancegraw, whose squad set a school record for wins this season.

Farmington won't have long to wait for a rematch. The teams meet again Tuesday at Notre Dame in a semifinal of the Class 2 District 1 tournament.

Notre Dame is seeded second and Farmington third. Perryville received the No. 1 seed for the five-team event.

Worley expects a much tougher time Tuesday because he anticipates the Knights will have their top player back on the field.

Freshman Taylor Sancegraw, the coach's daughter who has scored 35 goals this year, missed Thursday's game with back problems.

"We didn't see their best player," Worley said. "They'll have a different look next week."

Sancegraw hopes so, although he said he isn't certain if his daughter will be ready to go by Tuesday.

"I hope she can play," Sancegraw said. "We'll have our hands full."

Bradshaw said the Bulldogs won't take the Knights lightly with or without a healthy Sancegraw.

"We'll be confident but not too cocky," Bradshaw said. "We know every game is different."