Reigning state champion Raiders open season with strong second-half effort

HILLSBORO, Ill. — The title defense began somewhat slow.

In 32-degree weather, what else would you expect?

The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team, the reigning Class 1A state champion, led 1-0 at halftime of Monday’s season opener with sophomore Lilly Schuette scoring her first goal with the Raiders six minutes before the break.

In the second half, the floodgates opened as five different Raiders scored to cement a 7-1 victory in the first of three road games this week.

Six minutes into the second half, senior forward Sophie Gramke scored off a Makayla Patton assist, and just 90 seconds later, senior forward Lia Quintero scored off a Sage Stratton assist. Anna Keck made it 4-0 with a 22-yard strike from the right side of the penalty area, and Quintero’s header off a Gramke feed made it 5-0 just 13 minutes into the second half.

Avery Keck and Patton scored QND’s final two goals, while Hillsboro scored after the mercy rule had been invoked.

QND (1-0) travels to Riverton on Wednesday.