‘Did that really just happen?’ QND freshman scores her first varsity goal for memorable moment in sectional

Quincy Notre Dame freshman forward Abby Miller enjoys her first varsity goal, which she scored in the 51st minute of QND's 3-1 victory over Alton Marquette in Friday's Class 1A Greenville Sectional semifinal game at Don Stout Field. | Shane Hulsey

GREENVILLE, Ill. — Abby Miller’s reaction was equal parts shock and excitement. Given just a handful of minutes in the second half of Friday’s Class 1A Greenville Sectional semifinal game, the Quincy Notre Dame freshman forward made the most of her opportunity in the 51st minute. With QND and Alton Marquette tied at one, Miller…

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Photo Gallery: Two goals four minutes apart in second half propel Raiders past Alton Marquette

Quincy Notre Dame senior midfielder Sage Stratton shields off an Alton Marquette defender during Friday's Class 1A Greenville Sectional semifinal game at Don Stout Field. | Shane Hulsey

GREENVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team scored three unanswered goals in the second half to beat Alton Marquette 3-1 in Friday’s Class 1A Greenville Sectional semifinal. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey captured these images at Don Stout Field.

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Macomb girls soccer team wins first regional championship in program history

The Macomb girls soccer team celebrates the first regional championship in program history after beating Beardstown 2-1 on Wednesday at Pattee Field in Monmouth, Ill. | Submitted photo

MONMOUTH, Ill. — The Macomb girls soccer team made history Wednesday night in dramatic fashion. Kate Stortzum scored off Kylie Robinson’s assist with eight minutes remaining in regulation to lift third-seeded Macomb to a 2-1 victory over seventh-seeded Beardstown in the championship game of the Class 1A Monmouth Regional at Pattee Field.  It is the…

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With Class 1A regional championship in bag, real work about to begin for QND girls soccer team

Addie Flesch punches a shot past Hillsboro goalkeeper Aubrey Reincke for her third goal during Tuesday's regional championship game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | David Adam

QUINCY – Members of the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team were all smiles as they took turns posing for pictures with the regional championship plaque in front of the north goal at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Earning another piece of hardware for the school’s already bulging trophy case was worth celebrating, especially for the…

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QHS girls soccer team bows out in Class 3A regional semifinals after being shut out by Granite City

Quincy High School's Leah Knudson makes a move toward the goal during a 4-0 loss to Granite City in Tuesday night's Class 3A regional semifinal in Granite City. | Photo courtesy of Chris Mitchell

GRANITE CITY, Ill. — Ashley Walbring did everything she could to give the Quincy High School girls soccer team an opportunity to win its Class 3A regional semifinal Tuesday night. The senior goalkeeper even stopped a penalty kick. The one thing she couldn’t do was score. The Blue Devils’ biggest bugaboo all season — the…

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Photo Gallery: Flesch, Patton both record hat tricks in Raiders’ regional championship victory

Quincy Notre Dame's Addie Flesch crashes into Hillsboro goalkeeper Aubrey Reincke during the first half of Tuesday's regional championship girls soccer game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. At left is Hillsboro defender Addison Compagni. | David Adam

Addie Flesch and Makayla Patton both scored three goals in Quincy Notre Dame’s 9-0 victory over Hillsboro in the Class 1A regional championship game on Tuesday afternoon at Advance Physical Therapy Field. QND advances to face Alton Marquette – a 6-0 winner Tuesday over Carlinville – at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the semifinals of the…

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Martin scores five times as Hannibal earns chance for payback against Fort Zumwalt East in semifinal

Abbie Martin, shown playing on May 8 against Marshall, scored five goals in Tuesday's district quarterfinal victory over Warrenton. | File photo by Mathew Kirby

ST. PETERS, Mo. — The Hannibal girls soccer team wasted no time in earning a chance at payback in the Class 3 District 4 tournament. The third-seeded Pirates dispatched No. 6 seed Warrenton 8-0 in Tuesday’s quarterfinal, setting up a rematch of last season’s quarterfinal with Fort Zumwalt East, who also won 8-0 on Tuesday.…

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Thomas hopes demanding schedule has QND girls soccer team primed for postseason success

Springfield Lutheran's Kaylynn Kooi flinches as Quincy Notre Dame's Mia Vranjes hits a cross during Friday afternoon's Class 1A girls soccer regional semifinal game at Advance Physical Therapy Field in Quincy. | David Adam

QUINCY — Mark Thomas hopes a difficult regular season schedule has prepared his girls soccer team at Quincy Notre Dame for a potentially successful postseason run. However, he knew that getting his team to forget Monday’s 5-0 loss to Pleasant Plains in the regular-season finale would still be difficult — especially when the Raiders and…

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Raiders hold off late Blue Devil rally to sweep season series

Quincy Notre Dame junior Bayley Weisenberger dribbles toward Quincy High School junior defender Avri Warner during Friday's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — The record will show that Quincy Notre Dame swept the girls soccer season series against crosstown rival Quincy High School. But after shutting out the Blue Devils in the first meeting last month and holding them scoreless through the opening 72 minutes of the rematch Friday night, the Raiders had to sweat it out. Staked to a…

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Martin, Stolte both record hat tricks as Hannibal girls soccer team completes unbeaten NCMC run

Abbie Martin rips a shot during Hannibal's girls soccer game on Thursday against Marshall at Veterans Field. Martin scored three goals in the game. | Photo courtesy of Mathew Kirby

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal High School girls soccer team celebrated its seniors and wrapped up an undefeated run through the North Central Missouri Conference with a 9-1 victory over Marshall on Thursday night at Veterans Field.  Abbie Martin and Malia Stolte had three goals each, and Stolte added an assist. Ashley Davis and Kegan…

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Raiders celebrate final home game for seniors with 6-0 victory, anxious to make postseason tournament run

Quincy Notre Dame's Bayley Weisenberger (10) dribbles around a Jacksonville player during Wednesday night's girls soccer game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Annie C. Reller

QUINCY — Two goals scored within 40 seconds of each other put the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team in front in the game’s first nine minutes, and the Raiders went on to enjoy senior night with a 6-0 victory over Jacksonville on Wednesday night at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Mia Vranjes got the first…

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Barnes’ goal gives QND life, but late surge isn’t enough in one-goal loss at home to Springfield

Quincy Notre Dame's Ellison Barnes, left, and Sierra Thomas celebrate Barnes' goal in the 76th minute of a 2-1 loss to Springfield on Monday at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Ellison Barnes practiced what Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer coach Mark Thomas has preached, and it gave the Raiders a chance against Springfield on Monday at Advance Physical Therapy Field. With the Raiders trailing the Senators 2-0 and five minutes left in the second half, Barnes, a junior forward and midfielder, made a…

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Stolte, Martin score two goals each as Hannibal girls soccer team improves to 9-0 in NCMC play

Hannibal’s Abbie Martin takes a shot during Monday night's girls soccer game against Fulton at Veterans Field in Hannibal. | Photo courtesy of Mathew Kirby

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Malia Stolte and Abbie Martin each scored twice for the Hannibal girls soccer team in an 8-0 victory over Fulton on Monday afternoon in a North Central Missouri Conference game at Veterans Field. The Pirates (16-4) are undefeated after nine games in conference play, and they have won six consecutive games. They…

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Stolte, Martin combine for eight goals to help Hannibal girls soccer team win three games in Camdenton

Hannibal’s Malia Stolte, shown dribbling the ball during an April 29 game against Moberly, scored eight goals in three games during a tournmament at Camdenton. | MRN file photo by Mathew Kirby

CAMDENTON, Mo. — The Hannibal girls soccer team won three games at the Camdenton Tournament, defeating West Plains 9-1, Father Tolton 6-0 and Rolla 6-1 to improve its record to 15-4 and stretch its winning streak to five games. Abbie Martin and Malia Stolte both had three goals in Friday’s victory over West Plains, and…

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Raiders shut out by undefeated Peoria Notre Dame, but Thomas pleased with performance

Quincy Notre Dame coach Mark Thomas during an April 11 game against Quincy High School. | MRN file photo by Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Losing still stinks, but Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer coach Mark Thomas was pleased with his team’s play Friday night in a 2-0 loss to undefeated Peoria Notre Dame. “We worked hard,” Thomas said after the game, played at Advance Physical Therapy Field. “(Peoria Notre Dame has) got a good team, and that’ll…

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Knudson’s hat trick helps QHS girls soccer team continue recent momentum with blowout of Sterling

Sterling's Pricila Lopez, left, and Quincy's Alexa Mosley fight for possession of the ball during Tuesday night's girls soccer game at Flinn Stadium. Behind the play is Quincy's Maddy Kuhl. | Annie C. Reller

QUINCY — After Saturday’s 5-1 victory against Jacksonville, the Quincy High School girls soccer team wanted to continue the momentum Tuesday night at Flinn Stadium in Western Big 6 Conference play. Leah Knudson’s hat trick helped accomplish that in an 8-0 victory over Sterling. The Blue Devils (5-6) started strong, with the first goal coming…

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Blue Devils end five-game losing streak, score five goals to stop offensive drought

Quincy High School girls soccer coach Travis Dinkheller | MRN file photo by Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — After scoring just one goal in the last five games, the Quincy High School girls soccer team finally enjoyed offensive success on Saturday. Alexa Mosley’s goal came in the first five minutes and sparked an avalanche of goals in a 5-1 victory for the Blue Devils over Jacksonville at Flinn Stadium, snapping a…

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After falling behind, Hannibal girls soccer team scores next four goals to knock off Notre Dame

Hannibal's Malia Stolte (in white) tries to manuever around Quincy Notre Dame's Sage Stratton during Thursday night's girls soccer game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Annie C. Reller

QUINCY — Makayla Patton’s goal for Quincy Notre Dame 11 minutes into Thursday night’s game at Advance Physical Therapy Field broke a scoreless tie. It was like a slap in the face to the Hannibal girls soccer team. “We didn’t have the first goal, but if anything, it made us just come back harder and…

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QND commands second half, ends losing streak against QHS with 2-0 girls soccer victory

Addie Flesch is surrounded by her teammates after scoring the first goal of Friday night's girls soccer game at Flinn Stadium for Quincy Notre Dame. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY – Quincy High School swept crosstown rival Quincy Notre Dame in each of the previous two seasons, the only times the Blue Devils had accomplished that in the first 34 years of the girls soccer series. The Raiders were intent on flipping the script on Friday night when the teams met for the first…

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Photo Gallery: Raiders’ offense comes alive after scoring just one goal in past two games

Quincy High School's Leah Knudson settles the ball in front of Quincy Notre Dame's Lakin Allensworth during Friday night's game at Flinn Stadium. | Shane Hulsey

Adde Flesch gave the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team, which had managed just one goal combined in back-to-back losses to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin and Hannibal (Mo.), the lead with just 3 minutes, 9 seconds elapsed during Friday night’s game against Quincy High School at Flinn Stadium. Sage Stratton scored the Raiders’ second goal in…

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Area scoreboard for Saturday, April 5

QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Saturday, April 5: Prep baseball Quincy Notre Dame 3, Jacksonville 2 Prep softball Quincy Notre Dame 13, Dundee-Crown 5 Quincy Notre Dame 12, Fenton 3 Payson Seymour 11, Newark 11 Girls soccer Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 3, Quincy Notre Dame 0 College baseball Quincy University 8, Indianapolis 6…

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

Quincy Notre Dame senior forward Makayla Patton tries to settle a ball during the first half of Tuesday's 4-0 victory over Williamsville at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Area scoreboard for Tuesday, April 1

QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Tuesday, April 1: Prep baseball Quincy Notre Dame 7, Palmyra 0 Quincy High School 11, Macomb 0 Liberty 13, Southeastern 3 Camp Point Central 14, Pleasant Hill 3  Beardstown 3, Mendon Unity 2 Jacksonville Routt 10, Brown County 5 Pleasant Plains 10, Pittsfield 0 Moberly 5, Hannibal…

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Raiders forge tie with Explorers, get early-season taste of what postseason path looks like

Quincy Notre Dame's Makayla Patton, right, battles Alton Marquette's Radley Hoener for possession during Monday night's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team got a taste of what the Class 1A postseason path may look like, and it was no April fool’s joke. The Raiders played Alton Marquette to a scoreless tie Monday night at Advance Physical Therapy Field, finding the Explorers’ defense difficult to generate an attack against…

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Area scoreboard for Monday, March 31

QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Monday, March 31: Prep baseball Geneseo 15, Quincy High School 0 Illini West 4, Liberty 1 West Hancock 9, South Fulton 2 Canton 11, Monroe City 1 Marion County 12, Bevier 1 Prep softball Camp Point Central 10, Quincy High School 6 Pittsfield 16, North Greene 1…

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Area scoreboard for Saturday, March 29

QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Saturday, March 29: Prep baseball Edwardsville 9, Illini West 0 Pittsfield 7, Lewistown 0 Pittsfield 8, Ridgewood 0 Brown County 6, Camp Point Central 4 Canton 6, Brown County 4 Canton 13, Camp Point Central 2 Hannibal 7, Wright City 1 Warrenton 14, Hannibal 1 Moberly 11,…

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State of denial: Pirates’ Turner turns away PK attempt, stymies Blue Devils in tourney victory

Hannibal senior goalkeeper Ava Turner, left, and junior defender Matti Harvey celebrate Turner's save of a Lanee Schuette penalty kick in the second half of Friday's game at Flinn Stadium. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls soccer team looked poised to take the lead, but Ava Turner had other ideas. With Quincy and Hannibal deadlocked at 1 with 24:11 left in the second half of Friday’s QHS Kickoff Tournament game at Flinn Stadium, Quincy junior forward Lanee Schuette stepped to the penalty spot after…

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Area scoreboard for Friday, March 28

QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Friday, March 28: Prep baseball Kirksville 5, Quincy High School 4 Illini West 15, Clark County 3 Liberty 12, West Hancock 2 Mendon Unity 12, Southeastern 0 Prep softball Pittsfield 2, Camp Point Central 1 Payson Seymour 10, North Greene 0 Rushville-Industry 13, Illini West 0 Girls…

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Area scoreboard for Thursday, March 27

QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Thursday, March 27: Prep baseball Illini West 4, Mercer County 3 Brown County 17, Abingdon-Avon 1 Palmyra 11, Canton 1 Prep softball Camp Point Central 16, South Fulton 5 Mercer County 8, Illini West 1 Girls soccer Hannibal 6, Kirksville 0 Women’s lacrosse Culver-Stockton College 18, Midland…

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Relentless attack, constant movement enables Blue Devils to open season with WB6 victory

Quincy High School sophomore midfielder Leah Knudson, left, celebrates with junior forward Avery Morrison after Morrison scored the Blue Devils' first goal in the 33rd minute of a 3-0 victory over Rock Island on Tuesday night at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Eventually, AJ Stewart was going to be out of position, out of time or out of luck. It’s what Bella Brown, Leah Knudson and the rest of the Quincy High School girls soccer players were banking on. Stewart, the Rock Island junior goalkeeper, made six saves in the first half of Tuesday night’s…

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Area scoreboard for Tuesday, March 25

QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Tuesday, March 25: Prep baseball Quincy High School 7, Belleville West 4 Pleasant Plains 9, Quincy Notre Dame 8 Illini West 2, Sherrard 1 Mendon Unity 28, Payson Seymour 9 Brown County 16, Pleasant Hill 1 Francis Howell North 3, Hannibal 1 Palmyra 10, Elsberry 0 Monroe…

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Area scoreboard for Monday, March 24

QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Monday, March 24: Prep baseball Liberty 6, Payson Seymour 0 Mendon Unity 15, Monroe City 3 Brown County 5, Macomb 3 Beardstown 6, Camp Point Central 3 Rushville-Industry 17, West Hancock 7 Brookfield 8, South Shelby 5 Scotland County 15, Highland 0 Prep softball Pittsfield 14, Quincy…

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Area scoreboard for Saturday, March 22

QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Saturday, March 22: Prep baseball Quincy Notre Dame 5, Quincy High School 4 Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 12, Quincy Notre Dame 4 Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 7, Quincy High School 5 Pittsfield 13, Havana 3 Pittsfield 14, Havana 12 Payson Seymour 6, North Greene 5 Southern Boone 15, Palmyra…

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Area scoreboard for Friday, March 21

QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Friday, March 21: Prep baseball Illini West 14, Bushnell-Prairie City 0 Liberty 12, Winchester West Central 4 Peoria Heights 8, Mendon Unity 5 Mendon Unity 5, Macomb 3 Camp Point Central 9, Payson Seymour 3 Monroe City 5, Sliex 3 Marion County 8, Mark Twain 7 Fort…

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Finding balance between youthful exuberance, veteran leadership will define QND’s spring success

Senior right-hander Abram Wiewel will anchor the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team's pitching staff this season. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A mix of young talent and veteran leadership will shape the success of Quincy Notre Dame’s collection of teams this spring. Baseball A young, speedy QND baseball team will take the field for the first time at the QHS Slam on Saturday against Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin and Quincy High School at QU Stadium.…

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Spring storylines will unfold as QHS teams with young lineups get acclimated to change

Quincy High School center fielder Avary Hlubek anchors the outfield for a team capable of putting an offseason of disruption behind it. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Spring will be a season of change for the Quincy High School athletic program. Several teams have experienced heavy graduation losses and will look to younger athletes to fill the void, while a coaching change comes with having an experienced group to lean on. The storylines are just beginning to unfold. Softball The…

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Sisters act: Three sets of siblings provide Hannibal girls soccer team with depth, deeper connection

Hannibal sophomore midfielder Aly Falconer takes a penalty kick during a preseason practice at the Veterans Sports Complex in Hannibal, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — From kicking the ball around on the field at halftime of their older siblings’ games to playing together on the same team on that same field, Aly and Marissa Falconer’s soccer journey has come full circle. The youngest two of five siblings, Aly and Marissa attended their fare share of Hannibal soccer…

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QND’s Thomas embracing opportunity to improve her game, work toward spot on ODP national roster

Quincy Notre Dame sophomore Sierra Thomas represented the Midwest Regional during the Olympic Development Program InterRegional Event in Orlando, Fla., over the past week. | Submitted photo

QUINCY — With the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team playing high-caliber opponents seemingly every night during a three-week January stretch, Sierra Thomas knew what she’d be missing as she stepped away. “It’s so hard to not be there,” the sophomore guard said. Yet, her reason for taking a midseason hiatus came from an opportunity…

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QHS, QND girls soccer programs rack up all-sectional honors from IHSSCA

Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Makayla Patton, right, and Quincy High School senior midfielder Bri Lannerd both received Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association all-sectional honors. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The stability and strength of the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer teams — their spines — received a plethora of postseason accolades. Three Blue Devils and two Raiders were named to the all-sectional team by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association, to go along with each team picking…

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‘I just hit it’: Patton’s OT goal after lightning delay sends Raiders to sectional championship game

Quincy Notre Dame's Addlie Flesch, left, gains control of the ball with Alton Marquette's Emma Dempsey applying pressure during Friday night's Class 1A Riverton Sectional semifinal in Riverton, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

RIVERTON, Ill. — Lightning strikes delayed the game, but Makayla Patton’s strike decided it. At the end of a scoreless regulation, lightning near Riverton Middle School forced a 30-minute delay in Friday’s Class 1A Riverton Sectional semifinal between the Quincy Notre Dame and Alton Marquette girls soccer teams. Seven and a half minutes after the…

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Raiders pass first postseason exam as Patton leads goal-scoring barrage in regional title game

Quincy Notre Dame's Makayla Patton, left, battles Auburn's Alyssa Courtney for a ball in the air during Wednesday's Class 1A regional championship game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — If the postseason is supposed to feel like a series of final exams — Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer coach Mark Thomas described it as such — then Wednesday night’s Class 1A regional championship must have felt like a multi-choice test. How goals were the second-seeded Raiders going to score against third-seeded Auburn?…

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Raiders’ effort against Cardinals is sign they’re ready for postseason challenges

Quincy Notre Dame's Addie Flesch, left, battles Pleasant Plains' Miley Crow for possession during Monday night's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Mark Thomas has never concerned himself with which side of the ledger the higher number exists, but he understands the preoccupation with wins and losses. In the postseason, wins are all that matter. Leading up to the postseason, they aren’t always the measure of progress. “Sometimes when you look at a bigger perspective,…

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Martin’s golden goal caps Pirates’ comeback victory over Kewpies in regular season finale

Hannibal's Abbie Martin battles for possession with a pair of Columbia Hickman defenders during Monday's game at the Veteran Sports Complex in Hannibal, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Abbie Martin never panicked. Two and a half minutes into overtime of the Hannibal girls soccer team’s regular season finale against Hickman on Monday, Kewpies defender Hattie Hayes’ turnover in the middle of the pitch came right to Martin about 20 yards from the Hickman goal. Martin gathered, turned and rifled a…

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Blue Devils take it to limit to secure 20th conference championship in program history

EAST MOLINE, Ill. — Before leaving Flinn Stadium on Friday night, Quincy High School girls soccer coach Travis Dinkheller told his leg-weary team he needed 80 more quality minutes from them to complete a weekend sweep. “If it takes 100, then we’ll play 100,” Dinkheller said. How prophetic. Saturday’s Western Big 6 Conference championship showdown…

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Halfway home: Blue Devils hope to make weekend complete with WB6 crown after finishing season sweep of Raiders

Quincy High School's Bri Lannerd, left, battles Quincy Notre Dame's Sage Stratton, center, and Addie Flesch for a ball in the air during Friday night's game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Just how much the Quincy High School girls soccer players fully embrace the “do hard better” mantra will become obvious by the time their team bus departs East Moline sometime Saturday afternoon. Nothing the Blue Devils have faced this regular season will be as hard as playing two emotionally charged games in the…

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‘The time will come when we get one’: Effort reaching postseason caliber level for Raiders

Quincy Notre Dame sophomore forward Addie Flesch, right, celebrates her goal with teammate Sage Stratton, left, during Friday night's game against Quincy High School at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman

QUINCY — The frustration showed in their eyes, never in their effort. The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer players refused to give up their pursuit of a game-tying goal over the final 40 minutes of Friday night’s crosstown showdown with Quincy High School even when the equalizer never came. “All the girls worked their butts…

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Photo gallery: QHS, QND girls soccer teams battle in second matchup of city series

Quincy Notre Dame midfielder Lauryn Peters, left, and Quincy High School defender Hope Lenz battle for possession near the endline during the first half of Friday night's game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — For the second year in a row, the Quincy High School girls soccer team has swept the city series, winning 2-1 Friday night at Flinn Stadium behind two goals from senior midfielder Bri Lannerd. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the evening at the venerable facility and put together this photo gallery:

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Around the area: Hlubek belts three homers to lead Blue Devils past Chargers

Quincy High School's Avary Hlubek belted three home runs Friday against Illini West at the QHS field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Avary Hlubek could not and would not be denied. The sophomore center fielder hit home runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings of the Quincy High School softball team’s 12-4 victory over Illini West on Friday. Her second inning home run came just three batters after Carlee Gilker hit a two-run home…

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Right reactions to challenges keep Blue Devils undefeated in WB6 play

Quincy High School senior midfielder Bri Lannerd scored two goals in Tuesday night's 3-1 victory over Rock Island Alleman at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The reaction and retaliation is something Quincy High School girls soccer coach Travis DInkheller appreciates. Rock Island Alleman scored three minutes into the second half of Tuesday’s Western Big 6 Conference clash at Flinn Stadium, cutting the Quincy lead in half. Less than 10 minutes later, the advantage was back to two goals.…

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Hannibal girls soccer team posts two shutouts in winning Laker Shootout

Hannibal's Abbie Martin, left, and Ashley Davis combined to five goals in two victories Saturday during the Laker Shootout in Camdenton, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

CAMDENTON, Mo. — Mother Nature won Friday. The Hannibal girls soccer team owned Saturday. The Pirates’ opening game of the Laker Shootout against Warrensburg was washed out by Friday’s barrage of thunderstorms. It didn’t them from winning the title. Hannibal beat Carl Junction 3-0 and Waynesville 4-0 to win both the gold division and the…

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Right on cue: Pirates score flurry of goals in Pink Night victory over Bulldogs

Hannibal's Abbie Martin, left, and Aly Falconer celebrate one of Martin's three goals during Thursday night's 8-0 victory over Mexico in North Central Missouri Conference play in Hannibal, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Hannibal girls soccer coach Eric Hill did not write a script for Thursday’s North Central Missouri Conference game against Mexico, but if he would have, it would have looked something like the Pirates’ 8-0 victory at the Veterans Sports Complex. “We put on a show,” Hill said. It lasted only 51 minutes.…

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Early barrage, Routh’s hat trick carry Blue Devils to pivotal WB6 victory over defending champs

Quincy High School's Taylor Routh, right, celebrates her goal with teammate Rian Moore, who had the assist on the goal two minutes into Tuesday night's game against Geneseo. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls soccer team’s motivation never waned no matter how sizable the lead became. “Maybe for a second there we lost it,” senior forward Taylor Routh said. “But that’s it. We stayed pretty focused.” On a victory. On a title. On a legacy. Tuesday night’s 5-1 victory over Geneseo at…

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Thomas’ goal is breakthrough QND girls soccer team needs to knock off Burlington Notre Dame

Quincy Notre Dame's Sierra Thomas, right, attacks a Burlington Notre Dame defender during Tuesday's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Whew. That was the collective reaction from the Quincy Notre Dame soccer team when freshman Sierra Thomas scored in the 58th minute to break a scoreless draw in QND’s 3-1 win over Burlington Notre Dame on Tuesday at Advance Physical Therapy Field. “You could feel the air come out of the balloon a…

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Photo gallery: QHS girls soccer team inches closer to Western Big 6 Conference championship

Quincy High School midfielder Rian Moore wins a ball amid three Geneseo players during Tuesday night's Western Big 6 Conference game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls soccer team moved a step closer to regaining the Western Big 6 Conference championship, beating defending league champ Geneseo 5-1 Tuesday night at Flinn Stadium behind Taylor Routh’s hat trick. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the evening with the Blue Devils and put together this photo…

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Photo gallery: Split decision for QND teams at home as girls soccer wins, baseball falls

Quincy Notre Dame's Makayla Patton attempts to settle the ball during Tuesday's game against Burlington (Iowa) Notre Dame at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Playing side by side on the Quincy Notre Dame campus Tuesday evening, the QND girls soccer and baseball teams came away with mixed results. The soccer team scored three second-half goals in a 3-1 victory over Burlington (Iowa) Notre Dame, while the baseball team left 12 runners on base during a 4-0 loss…

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Show Me Spotlight: Stolte’s return to pitch is welcome addition for Hannibal girls soccer squad

Hannibal sophomore forward Malia Stolte, left, has provided a spark offensively in her return to the pitch this season. | Matt Schuckman photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — For two years, Malia Stolte watched from the stands as her friends played a game she loved. The entire time she wondered what it would feel like to step on the soccer pitch again. “I just saw everybody playing and having fun, and I was just like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I miss that,’”…

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Photo gallery: Twice is nice for Pirates as baseball, girls soccer teams pick up NCMC victories

Hannibal right fielder Konnor Asbury reacts to a solid defensive inning during Wednesday's 8-1 victory over Moberly at the Veterans Sports Complex in Hannibal, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Hannibal fans who made it to the Veterans Sports Complex on Wednesday afternoon were treated to a two-for-two. Two Pirates teams playing and two victories. The Hannibal girls soccer team continued its dominance of the North Central Missouri Conference, picking up an 8-0 victory over Kirksville. Malia Stolte scored four goals, Ashley…

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Around the area: South Shelby golfers win invite, Liberty rallies, QND collects 17 hits, Lowe homers twice for Blue Devils

The South Shelby boys golf team posted a 310 team score to win its own invitational Wednesday at Lakeside Golf Course in Shelbine, Mo. | Submitted photo

SHELBINA, Mo — Jaaron Durbin and Noah Wilt took advantage of their home course knowledge and shared medalist honors Wednesday as the South Shelby boys golf team won its own invitational at Lakeside Golf Course. The Cardinals shot a 310, while Palmyra was second at 333 and Canton third at 344. Durbin and Wilt each…

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Photo gallery: QND sweeps weekend slate at Lady Pirate Invitational, Hannibal goes 2-0-1

Quincy Notre Dame senior midfielder Lauryn Peters, left, tries to take possession from a Perryville player during Saturday's game in the Lady Pirate Invitational at Veterans Sports Complex in Hannibal, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team pushed its winning streak to five consecutive games after sweeping the weekend at the Lady Pirate Invitational at the Veterans Sports Complex. The Raiders beat St. Charles West 6-1 and Perryville 4-1 on Saturday to improve to 7-4. Hannibal, which played to a 3-3 draw…

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‘I’m going to keep shooting’: Raiders shake off early tough breaks to rout Southern Boone

Quincy Notre Dame forward Ellison Barnes, left, looks to drive the ball into the box from the right corner during Friday night's game against Southern Boone in the Lady Pirate Invitational in Hannibal, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

The Raiders scored six goals in the opening 40 minutes and defeated Southern Boone, 7-2, in their first game of the Lady Pirate Invitational.

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Photo gallery: Hannibal, QND take momentum into second day of Lady Pirate Invitational

Abbie Martin, right, and her Hannibal girls soccer teammates celebrate after Martin scored to tie Friday's game against Parkway Central at 3 in the second half at Veterans Sports Complex in Hannibal, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal and Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer teams opened play Friday night in the Lady Pirate Invitational at the Veterans Sports Complex with the Pirates rallying for a 3-3 tie with Parkway Central, while QND blasted Southern Boone 7-2. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey spent the evening in America’s hometown…

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

Quincy High School senior midfielder Rian Moore heads the ball toward the goal during the first half of Thursday night's game against Springfield at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Photo gallery: QHS, Springfield girls soccer teams square off at Flinn Stadium

Quincy High School senior forward Taylor Routh looks to make a run through the Springfield defense during the first half of Thursday's game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls soccer team woke up at halftime Thursday night and nearly pulled off an improbable comeback, losing 3-2 to Springfield at Flinn Stadium. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the evening at the venerable facility and put together this photo gallery.

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Photo gallery: Alumni celebration helps QND girls soccer team get back on winning track

Quincy Notre Dame junior wing Liesel Vincent passes the ball up the left side of the field during Saturday's game against Burlington (Iowa) at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Maybe the presence of three decades of alumni gave the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team a boost. Trailing Burlington (Iowa) 2-1 in the second half Saturday afternoon at Advance Physical Therapy Field, the Raiders responded with a three-goal rally for a 4-2 victory. Sophomore forward Addie Flesch scored three goals, including the…

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Blue Devils make two-goal lead last in winning first leg of crosstown series with Raiders

Quincy High School's Avery Morrison, right, tries to cut the ball back as Quincy Notre Dame defender Lauryn Peters charges during Friday night's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Eight days without a game was one of the reasons why the Quincy High School girls players conceded they struggled to get in a groove in the first half Friday night. Hope Lenz pinpointed the other issue. “There’s obviously a lot of emotion that goes into this game,” the senior defender said. That…

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‘It’s an adrenaline rush honestly’: Blue Devils’ Fohey stymies Raiders with series of saves

Quincy High School senior goalkeeper Taylor Fohey picks up a ball that rolled into the box off a shot from Quincy Notre Dame's Makayla Patton during Friday night's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Having a 6-foot, athletic, talkative and charismatic goalkeeper is kind of like having a warm, cozy blanket the Quincy High School girls soccer team can find comfort in. The Blue Devils don’t take that for granted. “Taylor is a badass,” senior defender Hope Lenz said of her teammate, Taylor Fohey. “Obviously, I’m going…

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Photo gallery: QHS, QND girls soccer teams square off in first showdown of spring

Quincy High School girls soccer coach Travis Dinkheller gives senior forward Taylor Routh a piggy-back ride to the bench after she cramped up late in Friday night's game against Quincy Notre Dame at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The sun came out Friday just in time to make the weather more pleasant for the first of two meetings this spring between the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer teams. The Blue Devils used a goal late in the first half and early in the second half to post…

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Pirates overwhelm another NCMC opponent with goal-scoring onslaught

Hannibal's Ashley Davis scored two goals in Thursday night's 8-0 victory over Fulton in North Central Missouri Conference play at Veterans Field in Hannibal, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal girls soccer team showcased its dynamic ability to put an opponent on its heels Thursday night. There isn’t much the rest of the North Central Missouri Conference can do about it. The Pirates overwhelmed Fulton in an 8-0 victory Thursday night at Veterans Field. The Pirates improved to 4-0 in…

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Martin, Pirates make history as late goal secures first-ever victory against Raiders

From left, Hannibal's Abbie Martin, Aly Falconer and Malia Stolte celebrate Stolte's goal with 16 minutes remaining in the first half of Tuesday night's 3-1 victory over Quincy Notre Dame at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A goal with four minutes remaining in regulation Tuesday night gave the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team a glimmer of hope. Abbie Martin snuffed that out in a blink. Roughly a minute after the Raiders trimmed their two-goal deficit in half, Martin burst free on a counterattack and finished with a deft…

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Photo gallery: Hannibal, QND girls soccer teams battle in cold, windy conditions

Members of the Hannibal and Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer teams await a restart during the second half of Tuesday night's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The temperature dipped below 40 degrees and the wind blew across the field with gusts up to 25 mph, creating challenges for both the Hannibal and Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer teams to maintain possession and control. Ultimately, the Pirates used the wind to their advantage and scored a 3-1 victory at Advance…

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Photo gallery: Stolte’s quick goal sparks Hannibal’s attack in NCMC victory over Moberly

Malia Stolte, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring 11 seconds into Thursday's North Central Missouri Conference game against Moberly at Veterans Field in Hannibal, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal girls soccer team earned a North Central Missouri Conference victory Thursday at Veterans Field, beating Moberly 5-1 as Malia Stolte tied a school record for the quickest goal scored as she netted the first goal just 11 seconds into the game. Aly Falconer scored two goals for the Pirates (5-1-1,…

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Pair of second-half goals lift Blue Devils to another road victory

Quincy High School's Avery Morrison scored the winning goal in Thursday night's 2-1 victory over Sacred Heart-Griffin in Springfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Travis Dinkheller said so long to his players. “I told them I’ll see you Monday,” he said. Following Thursday night’s 2-1 victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin — the Quincy High School girls soccer team’s fifth game in seven days — the Blue Devils coach wanted his players to get rest, get healed…

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

Quincy High School senior forward Taylor Routh scored the first goal in Tuesday night's 4-0 victory over Moline in Western Big 6 Conference play in Moline, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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QHS, Hannibal fit to be tied, while QND overwhelms West Plains on tourney’s first night

Hannibal's Abbie Martin drives the ball up the left sideline during Friday night's game against Quincy High School at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Friday night felt more like November football weather than the spring soccer season at Flinn Stadium with temperatures dipping close to the freezing mark and wind chills falling below 30 degrees. It didn’t put a chill on the fervor of a cross-river rivalry. The Quincy High School girls soccer team built a one-goal…

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Photo gallery: QHS, Hannibal, QND kick off weekend girls soccer tournament

Quincy High School senior midfielder Rian Moore directs the play off a throw-in during Friday night's game against Hannibal at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School and Hannibal girls soccer teams played to a 2-2 draw Friday night at Flinn Stadium, while Quincy Notre Dame beat West Plains (Mo.) 6-0 on the opening night of the QHS Kickoff Showcase. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent time at Flinn Stadium and put together this photo…

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Blue Devils bolt out of gate with 10-goal outburst to wallop Rocks in season opener

Quincy High School senior midfielder Bri Lannerd scored four goals in the Blue Devils' season-opening 10-1 victory at Rock Island on Tuesday night. | Matt Schuckman photo

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — One of the managers for the Quincy High School girls soccer team warned Blue Devils coach Travis Dinkheller when he watches the video footage of Tuesday night’s season opener he might hear a noticeable gasp or comment about the first goal. It happened so quickly, it took everyone by surprise. Off…

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Photo gallery: Stolte’s first goal, Wilson’s complete game help Hannibal enjoy banner day

Hannibal right-hander Kane Wilson delivers a pitch during Tuesday's game against Wentzville Holt at Veterans Field in Hannibal, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Malia Stolte didn’t settle for scoring her first varsity goal in the Hannibal girls soccer team’s 8-0 victory over Warrenton on Tuesday night at Veterans Field. She went ahead and recorded her first career hat trick as well. Kane Wilson didn’t settle for his first victory of the season for the Hannibal…

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Success on set pieces helps QND girls soccer team ‘set the tone for the rest of the season’

Quincy Notre Dame's Makayla Patton, right, collides with Jefferson City Helias' Liza Kemna while challenging for a ball in the air during Saturday's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Perfecting set pieces became a point of emphasis during the lead-up to the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team’s season opener. “For the past three days, we’ve worked on them every day,” junior midfielder Lilly Schuette said. “Even in walk-throughs.” The reason why became obvious 12 minutes into Saturday’s game against Jefferson City…

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Photo gallery: QND girls soccer team opens its season with 3-2 victory over Helias

Quincy Notre Dame freshman defender Sierra Thomas, left, attempts to clear a ball while being pressured from behind by Jefferson City Helias forward Brooke Yanskey during Saturday's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Lilly Schuette’s second-half penalty kick and a stout defensive effort over the final 40 minutes enabled the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team to open its season Saturday with a 3-2 victory over Jefferson City (Mo.) Helias at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the afternoon next to…

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