Sides' hat trick leads Notre Dame past Marion

The Notre Dame soccer team is 3-3 on the season, but also a perfect 2-0 against adversaries from Illinois.

“It was good to represent Missouri in a great way,” Notre Dame senior Bryce Sides said.

Sides led the Bulldogs to a 4-0 victory at home over Marion on Wednesday at Notre Dame Regional High School with his first-ever hat trick.

“I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” Sides said.

Sides’ first goal came at the tail end of the first half, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. After getting his second goal, the Notre Dame offense overwhelmed the Marion defense in the second half, allowing Charlie West to score in an entangled position close to the net, and for Sides to clinch the hat trick to round out the scoring.

“We got the ball in a quick transition. I made a run, got to the corner for most of them,” Sides said. “My teammates played three great balls to me and I was able to connect on them and take on the keeper one-on-one and finish.”

Sides’ scoring also impacts the Notre Dame defense by releasing the pressure for the players, allowing them to play their style with less tension.

“Whenever you get that 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 lead, that just takes a lot of pressure off us,” senior goalkeeper Thomas Southard said. “You know he’s going to perform every game and get goals.”

Notre Dame plays four games against nearby Southern Illinois schools, twice against Carbondale, once against Marion, and a road contest at Anna Jonesboro.

“It’s pretty different because they play a different style,” Southard said. “They’re a lot more physical than around here. We haven’t played that team in five years so it was a lot different because we didn’t know what style they were gonna play.”

The Bulldogs previously defeated Carbondale 1-0 in the Notre Dame Soccerfest last weekend. Notre Dame’s only two shutout victories this season have come against Illinois teams.

“It’s a big deal for us to win by shutout,” Southard said. “[Assistant coach Ryan Schweain] preaches all the time about how even when we’re up, we got to stay focused and keep the donut on the scoreboard.”

Notre Dame is looking to repeat as district champs. The Bulldogs started last season 3-3, just like this season, before going on a 14-3-1 run the rest of the way. They are led by 14 seniors this year, from the goalkeeper to the central striker.

“I think the seniors are a big deal this year,” Southard said, “not just me but other captains as well because I think people look for leadership not only on defense and offense but on and off the field.”

Notre Dame travels north to take on rival Saxony Lutheran at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12.