Determined Blue Devils showcase ability to never surrender in second half of loss to Senators

QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls soccer players are far too young to know the song “Never Surrender,” which was a top-five hit in 1985 sung by Corey Hart.

But the classic rock tune could be the Blue Devils’ theme song.

Down two goals and playing a person short for the final 17 minutes Thursday night against Springfield at Flinn Stadium, Quincy refused to surrender and had a chance with less than three minutes to play to potentially tie the game.

Bri Lannerd’s goal off a Rian Moore assist with 2 minutes, 12 seconds remaining pulled the Blue Devils within a goal, but time ran out before they could get another shot on frame in suffering a 3-2 loss.

“It kind of defines who we are as a team that we were able to dig deep and grind,” said Lannerd, a senior midfielder. “We should have started out strong, and that’s an issue we’ve had all season. But overall, it is about how you finish games, and when it comes to the end of the season when we’re playing Edwardsville and we’re playing in regionals, that’s exactly what we have to do.

“Everyone put their heart into it, and at the end of the day, that’s all you can ask of people.”

The Blue Devils trailed 3-1 with a little less than 18 minutes to play when Senators sophomore forward Kamryn Hoffman ran onto a long ball and got behind the defense. About 25 yards from the goal, QHS defender Hope Lenz fouled Hoffman to deny the 1-on-1 breakaway.

Because the foul was committed from behind by the last defender, Lenz received an automatic red card. It left the Blue Devils with nine field players the remainder of the game.

It also likely saved a goal, which is why Lenz’ teammates applauded the effort.

“There was nothing wrong with that,” Lannerd said. “Hope did exactly what she was supposed to do in that situation.”

Although the Blue Devils played a man down the rest of the way, the move kept them in the game as they continued to fight.

“I kind of challenged the girls at halftime,” QHS coach Travis Dinkheller said. “There are a lot of cliches that go with it, and I believe it’s Arthur Ashe who said it, but it is ‘adversity causes some men to break and others to break records.’ That’s one of my favorite quotes.

“So I knew I needed to challenge them. … It wasn’t our best effort in the first half, and I don’t think anybody here watching the game tonight would have said it was.”

The Blue Devils (6-2-1) surrendered two goals and asked Fohey to make five other critical saves to keep it that close at halftime. It was the first time this season the QHS coaching staff watched the Blue Devils react negatively to an adverse situation.

That changed in the second half.

“We battled,” Dinkheller said. “A lot of emotion went into that.”

It started immediately. Off a pass from Lannerd, QHS forward Kirsten Kramer drove to the net and hammered a shot at Springfield goalkeeper Addssynne Sawyer that eluded the keeper and rolled in near the post just 32 seconds into the second half.

The Blue Devils pushed the remainder of the half and believe that kind of drive and responde will carry over. They play games at Jacksonville on Saturday and Sterling on Tuesday before getting a week off before returning to Flinn Stadium to face Geneseo.

“We have the energy, we have the effort, we have the competitiveness,” Lannerd said.