Cann nets first career goal as Hawks erase deficit, salvage tie with Flyers in GLVC opener

Quincy University freshman forward Leo Cann goes up to win a ball in the air during Sunday's game against Lewis at Legends Stadium. | Photo courtesy QU Athletics/Kari Ham

QUINCY — Leo Cann’s first career goal and a stout defensive effort in the second half Sunday enabled the Quincy University men’s soccer team to salvage a 1-1 tie with Lewis in the Great Lakes Valley Conference opener at Legends Stadium. In doing so, the Hawks withstood a barrage. The Flyers outshot the Hawks 22-6…

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Raiders’ Cann gives QND boys soccer program 10 straight seasons with all-state honoree

Quincy Notre Dame senior forward Leo Cann became the Raiders' 10th all-state selection in the last 10 seasons and finished his career with 69 career goals. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Leo Cann makes it a perfect 10. The senior forward on the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team received all-state honors from the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association, marking the 10th straight season a QND player has earned all-state plaudits. “That’s a pretty good run,” QND coach Greg Reis said. Cann led…

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Max-imum effort: Frericks’ save on first PK in shootout carries QND to sectional semifinal win

Quincy Notre Dame goalkeeper Max Frericks dives over the top of Mendota's Isaac Diaz to make the save during the second half of Saturday's Class 1A sectional semifinal in Chillicothe, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

CHILLICOTHE, Ill. — The value of Max Frericks’ presence in goal can’t be overstated or undersold. He’s a game changer. The Mendota boys soccer team became the latest to realize so Saturday in a penalty-kick shootout to decide who plays for a Class 1A sectional championship. The 6-foot-3 Quincy Notre Dame senior goalkeeper stopped the…

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No Reis, no worries: Raiders open state title defense with whitewashing of Tornadoes

The Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team looks to capitalize on a ball played into the box during Saturday's Class 1A regional semifinal against Abingdon-Avon in Monmouth, Ill. | Photo courtesy Frank Cann

MONMOUTH, Ill. — If Greg Reis had any long-distance concerns, all he would have had to do is pull out his phone and take one glance at social media to alleviate them quite quickly. The updates, like the goals, came fast and furious. The Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer coach missed Saturday’s postseason opener in…

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No cramping his style: Dede scores game-winner as Blue Devils fend off Raiders in city rivalry game

Quincy High School's Andrew Brown hugs teammate Nolan Dede after Dede scored the go-ahead goal in Thursday night's 3-2 victory over Quincy Notre Dame at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Nolan Dede wanted to join the celebration, but that required getting to his feet and ignoring his cramping right calf. “It was such a conflict of emotions,” he said. “There was the pain and there was the excitement.” And there was the magnitude of the moment. Dede’s header off an Evan Sohn restart…

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Anything you can do, Leo Cann do better: Senior forward’s hat trick lifts Raiders to victory over Blue Devils

Quincy Notre Dame senior forward Leo Cann, right, hits a restart over the Quincy High School defensive wall and curls it into the net for the go-ahead goal in the Raiders' 4-2 victory Thursday night at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Leo Cann has played at Flinn Stadium only once each season throughout his high school soccer career. Yet, two of his most memorable moments happened on his rival’s home turf. As a sophomore, Cann scored the lone goal in the second half of the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team’s 1-0 victory against…

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Raiders ready to meet challenges that come with being defending state champions

Quincy Notre Dame senior goalkeeper Max Frericks will be the Raiders' stopper as they attempt to defend their Class 1A state championship. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The hype began before the first practice took place. So the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer players know what’s coming. The Raiders’ season opens Monday with an epic matchup — defending Class 1A state champion QND traveling to Peoria to face defending Class 2A state champion Peoria Notre Dame. The Irish have dubbed…

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Quiet assassins: QND soccer team turns laser focus into rout of Mendota for sectional title

Quincy Notre Dame senior forward Tanner Anderson, left, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his fourth goal during Saturday's 7-1 victory over Mendota in the Class 1A sectional championship game in Mendota, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

MENDOTA, Ill. — Everything Greg Reis observed Saturday morning left him convinced the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer players had the right disposition to run down a sectional championship. “We had a special energy when we went to mass and then went to breakfast,” the QND coach said. Yet, the tone seemed to change when…

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Cann-do attitude: Sophomore’s goal boosts Raiders to victory over Blue Devils in city series

Quincy Notre Dame's Leo Cann, left, and Brock Evans, center, celebrate after Cann scored in the 23rd minute Thursday night to propel the Raiders to a 1-0 victory over Quincy High School at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — With the start of the postseason looming just five days away, the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer players are confident they’re ready for a title chase. All it takes is a Cann-do attitude. Thursday night, a sophomore striker showed the Raiders how that looks. Off a long throw-in from the right sideline, QND’s…

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