Saxony Lutheran girls soccer romps past Father Tolton in Class 1 semifinal

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It may be a business trip for Saxony Lutheran girls soccer, but it sure looked like fun on Wednesday.

The defending state champions blistered Father Tolton 8-0 in an MSHSAA Class 1 semifinal at Swope Park Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri, turning up the heat with a seven-goal second half that left the Trailblazers in the dust to advance to Thursday's state championship.

Saxony Lutheran players celebrate the first goal of the game as Father Tolton goalkeeper Hana Dietz picks herself up Wednesday, June 1, 2016, in Kansas City.KIT DOYLE ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

"The first half we just didn't quite click. We were getting ahead of ourselves; we wanted it so bad," Saxony Lutheran coach Garrett Fritsche said. "… I thought their intensity was a little bit down from where I wanted it to be — I told them they were at about a 7 or 8, and if we turn it up one or two notches, it'll be yours.

"[They] came off the field and said, 'What was the difference?' All they did was turn it up a notch. They connected on that last pass, that last play, and put it in."

Grace Mirly and Tess Daniel each notched a brace and Brianna Mueller had a goal and two assists for the victors. Ashley Fritsche, Maddie Brune and Taylor Fritsche also scored for the Crusaders.

Saxony Lutheran (21-1) controlled the first half but, characteristically, were just a bit off early on. But once the Crusaders figured out how to turn possession and pressure into goal-scoring, the game was quickly decided.

"I think what the problem was we'd get the ball and start making plays, but we just couldn't finish," Brune said. "Once we got into a groove and started settling into the game there was no looking back, and before you knew it it was 8-0."

The two teams had met earlier in the season on April 15 in a game the Crusaders won by a similar scoreline, 8-1.

"I think they definitely put up more of a fight, especially in the first half," Brune said. "But then it seemed like they almost stepped down in the second half. We got into our groove and after that they couldn't hang with us anymore."

The Trailblazers (12-14) got a look at goal on a shot by Lindsey Wright in the 13th minute, but Crusader goalkeeper Raegan Wieser had no trouble handling the shot. After that, it was all Saxony.

But the Crusaders struggled to finish things off in the attacking third. Mirly got a pair of chances around the 18th minute, including a look in alone on goal after beating the back line, but Hana Dietz came up with the save both times for the Trailblazers.

Moments later Brune broke loose on the right side and laid a cross in to the feet of Mirly, whose first touch let her down and left another opportunity wanting.

Things finally broke for Saxony after Brianna Mueller sailed a shot from 20 yards out toward the top left corner, forcing Dietz to make a leaping save and concede a corner kick. Mueller then placed that corner just inside the near post, where Ashley Fritsche slid to get her foot on the ball and knock it into the net for a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute.

Father Tolton was officially credited with two shots in the first half, but had none after the 14th minute and rarely even got the ball out of its own half.

Saxony Lutheran sophomore Ashley Fritsche, right, scores the first goal of the game against Father Tolton during their Class 1 state semifinal match on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, in Kansas City.KIT DOYLE ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

The floodgates opened in the second half.

It started in the 43rd minute when Laurel Mueller turned on the ball, ran at the defense and then put Mirly into space. The senior cooly slid the ball to the left for a 2-0 lead.

"After Grace got that one, I looked at Crawford and said, 'Ok, we're going to get some more here,'" coach Fritsche said. "The pressure just came off."

But things really took off four minutes later, when the Crusaders exploded in a four-minute outburst that saw three goals, including both of Daniel's. The speedy winger got on the end of a Brune cross after she centered it from the right side, knocking it into the left half of goal for a 3-0 lead. Two minutes later it was Daniel again, heading in a Brianna Mueller corner kick (set up after Mueller sailed a dangerous shot toward the top left corner from 20 yards out).

"We all know what we need to do, it's just a matter of doing it," Daniel said. "Maddie always does her pregame speeches and one thing she always says is, 'We just need to get it done.' It's just as simple as that sometimes. We know the places we need to be. It's just a matter of getting there and getting the job done."

Mirly then completed her two-goal day to make things 4-0.

Saxony Lutheran sophomore Laurel Mueller (22) shoots between Father Tolton defenders during their Class 1 state semifinal match on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, in Kansas City. KIT DOYLE ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

Brune created danger in the 59th minute when she took a positive first touch into the box and got tripped up by a defender. She stood over the 21-yard free kick and curled it low around the wall and inside the left post for 5-0 advantage.

Again scoring in bunches, the Crusaders made it 7-0 a minute and a half later, as Taylor Fritsche got behind the defense and fired a shot that was saved, but got to the rebound and was untroubled in pushing the ball across the goal line.

Brianna Mueller sealed the scoring with a strike from 25 yards out that cleared goalkeeper Dietz and sailed into the left side of the net.

Father Tolton (12-14) and Summit Christian will face off in Wednesday's 10 a.m. third-place game.

Saxony will take on Trinity Catholic (14-7-2) in the Class 1 state championship Thursday at 2 p.m.

"I think every game for us, we look at it as it's a big game but it's just like every other game," Daniel said. "We have to play together as a team and communicate and utilize our strengths. I think that's our biggest thing — go in and play like we always do, regardless of the stakes."

The Titans were 3-2 winners over Summit Christian Academy in Wednesday's earlier semifinal.

Saxony Lutheran senior Maddie Brune, right, scores past a wall of Father Tolton defenders on a free kick in the second half of the Class 1 state semifinal match on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, in Kansas City.KIT DOYLE ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

"Trinity played really well [in their semifinal] and they have some threats up top and play good defense, so it will be exciting," coach Fritsche said.

"Our defense has got to be strong from the start. Based on how they played, they started slow and as the game progressed they picked it up. I think it's whoever is going to that first goal or two. It's going to be about who turns it on first."

For Saxony, it's also about remembering that business can be fun, especially when it's the business of winning titles.

"It's actually something we talked about — we talked about instead of being relieved, be excited," Brune said. "When we get that hype level up, it completely changes the atmosphere of our team. I think tomorrow, going in excited and ready to go, that's going to be the key."

Saxony Lutheran 8, Father Tolton 0

First Half

1. Ashley Fritsche, SL, (Brianna Mueller), 26:24

Second Half

2. Grace Mirly, SL, (Laurel Mueller), 42:50

3. Tess Daniel, SL, (Maddie Brune), 46:06

4. Daniel, SL, (B. Mueller), 48:10

5. Mirly, SL, (unassisted), 50:08

6. Brune, SL, (free kick), 58:08

7. Taylor Fritsche, SL, (unassisted), 59:36

8. B. Mueller, SL, (unassisted), 65:34

Shots: Father Tolton 4, Saxony Lutheran 17

Saves: Father Tolton (Hana Dietz) 3, Saxony Lutheran (Raegan Wieser) 4

Corner kicks: Father Tolton 2, Saxony Lutheran 7