Patton, Flesch get Raiders’ offense rolling in right direction in four-goal victory over Bullets

QUINCY — What took place on the backend of each of the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team’s scoring opportunities is what gets remembered.

It’s the build-up to those opportunities that Raiders coach Mark Thomas likes to see.

The off-the-ball movement of forwards Makayla Patton and Addie Flesch and the control of midfielders Sage Stratton and Lily Schuette created a perfect storm of scoring success Tuesday as Patton netted a hat trick, Flesch delivered three assists and the Raiders beat Williamsville 4-0 at Advance Physical Therapy Field.

“When our midfielders win those balls and we can attack and get downhill and have that movement up front, we create chances,” Thomas said. “Give me Makayla and Addie on the end of those in those areas and they are going to score goals at a high percentage-wise most of the time.”

Coming off Monday’s scoreless draw with Alton Marquette, the Raiders (3-0-1) needed a bounce back.

Hammering the reigning Class 1A state runner-up did the trick, and it didn’t take long to jumpstart the offense.

Patton, a senior who has signed to play at Quincy University, gave the Raiders the lead less than two minutes into the game, running onto a perfect feed from Flesch. Patton made it 2-0 with 35 minutes remaining in the first half.

She completed the hat trick and it made it 3-0 by converting another Flesch setup with 126 minutes remaining in the first half.

“I thought her movement off the ball creates those opportunities,” Thomas said.

Williamsville had started the season 6-0 with five shutouts and had allowed more than goals only once in its previous 35 games.

Lakin Allensworth made it a 4-0 advantage with her goal less than two minutes before halftime. Freshman goalkeeper Tessa Porter and the defense made the lead last for their third consecutive shutout.

“That’s because of our team defense,” Thomas said. “This was more of a complete game.”

The Raiders will face their third consecutive state-caliber opponent when they head to the state capitol Saturday to face Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, which is 3-2 this season and eliminated the Raiders with a 5-1 victory in last year’s sectional championship.