Possession key to Notre Dame's district title in soccer

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Sikeston shocked Notre Dame with a goal in the first five minutes of Friday's Class 2 District 1 girls soccer title game.

Sikeston already beat Notre Dame earlier this season, and the early goal was a kick to the stomach of Notre Dame's players.

"I think we were a little nervous, but we knew that if we played possession, we could get easy goals," Notre Dame junior Allyson Bradshaw said. "The last game, we played possession mostly and we just didn't shoot that good."

Notre Dame settled down after the goal, restored order and unleashed an offensive attack. The result was the second consecutive district title for Notre Dame after posting a 6-3 victory.

"For a while we were freaking out right after they scored," Notre Dame senior Meghan Dohogne said. "When we realized we weren't going to get a goal by just going straight at them, then I thought we played possession better."

Notre Dame players congratulate Anna Wren, center, after her goal Friday during the Class 2 District 1 title game in Farmington, Mo. (Kit Doyle)

Possession proved the key to Notre Dame's victory. It took Notre Dame a few minutes of play after the goal to regain its bearings and settle into its possession game. Notre Dame began methodically working the ball around on offense trying to find quality shots.

"This whole week we've been working on possession every single game," Notre Dame sophomore Brianne Sanders said. "Coach has been telling us we have to possess the ball. We followed our passes, and I think that was the key to the whole week."

Despite controlling the ball, Notre Dame couldn't find the back of the net. That changed when Katherine Blasiney sent a corner kick high into the box and Anna Wren headed it into the corner of the goal to even the score with 9 minutes, 32 seconds left in the first half.

It didn't take long for Notre Dame to strike again. Dohogne cut in from the left and cranked a shot between the goalie and near post for a 2-1 lead with 2:38 left in the first half. Dohogne offered little reaction after barely getting the ball inside the post.

Notre Dame wasn't done. It continued to possess the ball during stoppage time, and Hali Rendleman added an insurance goal shortly before the referee blew the whistle to end the first half.

Notre Dame celebrates a second half goal Friday, May 21, 2010, during the Class 2 District 1 title game in Farmington. (Kit Doyle)

"Any time you're going to possess, you're making the other team run," Sanders said. "That's the key to our game right now, just to make them run and get tired."

Notre Dame's attack struck again in the opening minute of the second half. Blasiney earned her second assist of the game, this one off a free kick near Sikeston's 18-yard box. Blasiney rolled a pass to Bradshaw on her right, and Bradshaw ran to it and put it in for a 4-1 lead.

"The further you put them down, the harder it is to come back," Dohogne said. "It's more pressure to come back."

Sikeston tried to make a game of it with a goal seven minutes later, cutting its deficit to 4-2, but Notre Dame responded with tallies by Shelby Dix and Sanders to end the suspense.

"We were still possessing the ball, but we were getting a little bit lax," Dohogne said. "We just realized it wasn't over and we had to keep pushing. Then we played better and put a couple in."

Notre Dame keeper Lindsey Strieker, right, leaps as a loose ball bounces in front of the goal Friday during the Class 2 District 1 title game in Farmington, Mo. (Kit Doyle)

Notre Dame coach Jeff Worley said he watched his team's ability to possess the ball improve during recent practices, and he was pleased to see it translate to Friday's game.

"We worked hard on it all season, but they really, really found a comfort level here especially in the last two weeks where each other is at on the field," he said. "We've worked on a lot of give-and-go kind of passes, that when you pass the ball, you continue to move."

The Notre Dame players admitted that their loss to Sikeston earlier this season helped fuel them in Friday's rematch.

"You've got to get them back if they get you," Dohogne said. "We knew they were coming in wanting to play. They had extra motivation because they were very excited they beat us last time. Oh yeah, that was a factor."

Notre Dame (13-9) advances to Thursday's sectional round, where it will have an opportunity to avenge another of its losses. It will face Notre Dame of St. Louis, a team it lost to 3-1 on May 6 at home. The battle of Notre Dames is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Hillsboro High School.

Notre Dame's Allyson Bradshaw settles a ball in the Sikeston box during Friday's Class 2 District 1 title game.

"We're going to have to not get sucked into chasing and we just need to possess," Dohogne said.