Sikeston can’t keep pace in lop-sided loss to Perryville

SIKESTON — The Sikeston girls’ soccer team faced a daunting challenge when Class 2, No. 4 Perryville visited on Tuesday, April 25.

The Lady Pirates (10-1) came away victorious with an 11-0 win. Although the match didn’t end in the Lady Bulldogs' (4-13) favor, the team demonstrated sportsmanship and continued to play with determination and effort throughout the match.

“On a night like this you focus on your kids staying healthy, being positive with one another and learning from the things we did do well,” said Sikeston coach Gabe Dement. “We were able to connect some passes and create some transitions, and we never gave up.”

Sikeston's Caroline Blanton (11) looks for an opening�during an 11-0 loss to Perryville at Bill Lawson Memorial Field on Tuesday, April 25.Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat

Despite being outmatched, Sikeston never gave up and continued to compete until the final whistle. The team can take this experience as a learning opportunity and continue to work hard to improve their game in the future.

Perryville graduated just one senior from last season’s squad that advanced to the final four.

“They reloaded and are even better,” Dement said. “Based on what I saw, they are one of the best teams around and also one of the best Perryville teams.

Perryville's Ashlyn Rodewald (12) passes�during an 11-0 win over Sikeston at Bill Lawson Memorial Field on Tuesday, April 25.�Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat

“They have a lot of girls that have spent their whole lives playing the sport,” he continued. “So, they maintain possession well. Every girl knows their position and has great soccer and foot skills. The ball just keeps moving and they know where to be.”

The Lady Pirates got goals from Ava Ernst (3), Rachel Riney (2), Ashlyn Rodewald (2), Reese Behrle, Delaney Kaempfe, Kyla Schnurbusch and Brynn Wibbenmeyer, while Rodewald (3), Behrle (2), Wibbenmeyer, Caroline Gremaud, Ana Moll and Alyssa King provided the team with assists.

“The team moved the ball well,” said Perryville coach Jerry Fulton. “The passing was on and they utilized the space. The effort was very good. They’ve been improving all year and showed that today.

“But I was most impressed with our unselfishness,” Fulton continued. “The movement off the ball, the sharing of the ball and the all-around camaraderie of the team.”

Perryville travels to Windsor (11-5) on Thursday, April 27, and will host St. Vincent (11-3) on Saturday, April 29.

Sikeston is on the road at district foe Hillsboro (4-10-1) on Thursday, April 27, and travels to Poplar Bluff (6-6) on Monday, May 1.

“Give Sikeston a couple of years and [coach Dement] will rebuild this team,” Fulton concluded. “He knows what he’s doing and always puts out good teams. These things go in a cycle and every school goes through it. We’ll eventually face the issues they’re dealing with now, and Sikeston will be back.”