Opening salvo carries QND girls soccer team to easy victory in regional opener

May 11, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor

Quincy Notre Dame's Avery Keck plays the ball forward during the first half of Tuesday's Class 1A QND Regional semifinal against Springfield Lutheran at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team’s postseason plan is quite simple.

Score early. Score often. Score as much as possible.

Lia Quintero’s first two goals came just 40 seconds apart Tuesday and gave the top-seeded Raiders a two-goal lead just four minutes into the Class 1A QND Regional semifinal against eighth-seeded Springfield Lutheran.

A similar start to the second half — Quintero and Sage Stratton each scored in the first eight minutes — allowed QND to invoke the mercy rule and finish off an 8-0 victory at Advance Physical Therapy Field.

“Anytime you can score in the first five minutes of a game, it’s a huge advantage,” QND coach Mark Longo said. “Even if it’s against a team you expect to beat pretty easily, it helps to get off to such a good start.”

Sustaining the attack when there isn’t much resistance is the challenge because it’s easy to get complacent.

Quintero’s first goal came off a cross from Avery Keck just 3:20 into the game. A quick change of possession off the center restart allowed Annie Eaton to get free and carry the ball to the right corner. She centered a pass to Quintero, who one-timed a shot into the right side of the goal.

“That’s the motto for the rest of the year,” Longo said. “Score early.”

Eaton made it a 3-0 lead with 10:15 elapsed when she scored off a Makayla Patton assist. Quintero finished her hat trick with a shot from outside the penalty area with less than five minutes to go in the first half, and Patton’s goal in the final minute made it a 5-0 halftime lead.

Quintero scored her fourth goal five minutes into the second half, and Stratton buried a header eight minutes into the half. Grayson Pritts scored the Raiders’ final goal.

QND (17-3-3) will face fourth-seeded Beardstown at 5 p.m. Friday in the regional championship. The Tigers advanced with a 1-0 victory over Riverton in Tuesday’s other semifinal.

Potential matchups with Piasa Southwestern and Alton Marquette loom in the sectional.

“If we play well, we have a heck of a shot,” Longo said.