Blue Devils come home from bitterly cold road trip with another conference victory

MOLINE, Ill. — Playing in less-than-ideal conditions is something the Quincy High School girls soccer team has had to embrace.

“We have to take the attitude that nothing bothers us,” Blue Devils coach Travis Dinkheller said. “We’re going to be tougher and we’re going to play harder than our opponent.”

Once they got their feet under themselves Tuesday night in 30-degree weather, the Blue Devils did exactly that.

Two goals scored in each half and stout play from the defense led to a 4-0 victory over Moline in Western Big 6 Conference play and a solid bounce-back from Saturday’s loss to Ladue Horton Watkins.

“Keep focusing on our system of play,” Dinkheller said. “That’s what we keep telling them.”

By doing so, it allows the Blue Devils (3-1-1, 2-0 WB6) to make adjustments as needed. With the Maroons playing a three-back system, an adjustment was necessary.

“Instead of looking to the middle, we wanted to play the ball down the line,” Dinkheller said. “The more comfortable we got with doing that, the more people ended up in space. … When we move the ball, do the simple things and play to feet, we’re pretty good.”

Quincy took the lead midway through the first half when Taylor Routh scored off an Avery Morrison assist. Rian Moore doubled the lead when she scored off a Bri Lannerd assist with eight minutes remaining in the first half.

In the second half, Kirsten Kramer scored off a Morrison assist and Lannerd finished the scoring by converting a Moore assist. Senior goalkeeper Taylor Fohey kept a clean sheet.

“A lot of people did a lot of good things tonight,” Dinkheller said. 

Quincy will play the second of three consecutive road games when it travels to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin on Thursday. The Cyclones are 5-1 following Tuesday night’s 3-1 loss to Chatham Glenwood.

“There aren’t a lot of gimmes on our schedule,” Dinkheller said.