St. Albert girls held in State Football-SW Iowa News

A game packed with what-ifs, class 1-A No. 9 Saintes eliminated No. 1 Union 3-2 Thursday afternoon in the first round of state tournament girls. Fell behind 3-0 at halftime before making a late charge in a thrilling final 20 minutes with complex Soccer red oak.

"(Union) had nothing to lose and we had to lose," said sophomore forward Allison Cox. "We gave everything we had."

Cox was the offensive catalyst St. Albert. She fed a cross pass to teammate Karissa Herrington a 53rd minute goal and another by Jenny Daley took five minutes later, pushing past Union Blunt for a Whitney goalkeeper close-range.

Suddenly a goal with only a quarter of the contest still to play, not wilt the Saintes (14-6). Cox has received at least three shots that the area could have been knotted the score, including a liner caught posting and a Blunt attempt that clanged off the crossbar.

The final good appearance, with 11 minutes left, ending the conflict with Blunt after hard shot deflected away from her body.

"I feel as if they were good shots, soon," said Cox. "When they are missing by just a little, it was really disappointing."

The speedy forward has played by around 70 percent after landing awkwardly on his injured hip early. He said the pain affected much more by its ability to separate from the Union defenders of the shot.

The Knights (17-0) moving at 2: 15 pm in a Semifinal clash with Clarion Heelan (14-4) Friday. Coaches said the Lizzie Zondo adversity was a good test for the club, which had allowed only five goals before Thursday.

"There were definitely some surprises along the way," said Zondo. "I was proud of how the girls kept their composure and kept their heads in the game and came away with the victory.

Union got the goals from long distance. Noel Mahood lofted a high ball from the right side that snuck over St. Albert owner Katie Kuck in the 18th minute. Sophomore Kylie Powell – who entered the game with a nation-leading 48 goals – made 2-0 on a header off a Corner a few minutes later.

Casey Barney seemingly put the game away when it is associated with a high pass by Mahood in a 25th minute header.

The Saintes remained winless in four trips dating back to 1998.

"One of these years I hope we can win in the first round," coach Randy St. Albert Salyers said. "I can't get upset with the way they played. I believe that much still has to do with age. But I think the seniors and to get things back under control in the second half. "

Salyers credited Hannah Sneed and Naomi Allan specifically says the MIDFIELDERS who found an extra gear when subbing wasn't an option with a small list.

Sneed said later, emotional, this not forget an era in which the Saintes never conceded one game – even for the bevy of larger schools that played and often beat.

"We are all stuck together," said Sneed. "We surprised a lot of people this year."