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

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 made a run to the left post as Makayla Patton delivered a cross from the right wing. Miller volleyed the ball out of the air and into the back of the net for what proved to be the game-winner in the No. 2 seed Raiders’ 3-1 victory over the top-seeded Explorers at Don Stout Field.

It was Miller’s first varsity goal, explaining the look of astonishment on her face as she untangled herself from the back of the net to celebrate with her teammates.

“I was like, ‘Did that really just happen?’” Miller said.

QND coach Mark Thomas, who has coached Miller since she was 8 years old, was not all that surprised.

“She’s had five goals in one game for me, so she has some talent,” Thomas said. “She’s done great in the JV games, but the speed of the varsity game is just a lot quicker, and she’s adapted well to that. You saw that tonight. She put herself in a great spot and made a great finish. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Miller’s goal was a testament to the “next-player-up” mentality Thomas instills in his troops, especially those who come off the bench.

“I told her, ‘Listen, get in there, work hard. You’re going to be in there for five to seven minutes. Put yourself in good positions,’ and that’s what she did,” Thomas said. “I tell everybody on the bench, ‘Be ready. It could be your time.’”

It just happened to be Miller’s time on Friday.

“It’s definitely a really good start to my high school career,” Miller said.

Miller’s goal, followed by an insurance tally in the 75th minute by Addie Flesch, gave the Raiders the cushion they needed to advance to the sectional championship game on Tuesday against either Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin or Litchfield.

The Raiders trailed 1-0 after a frustrating first half.

“I challenged them in the second half,” Thomas said. “I wasn’t very happy. I said, ‘Hey, if you want to play Tuesday, you’re going to have to play a hell of a lot harder than how we did.’”

The Raiders responded with gusto. In the 47th minute, Patton got on the end of a Sage Stratton corner kick and sent a strong header past Explorers goalkeeper Jessica Eales to level the score.

“That one helped us get more,” Patton said. “It brought our energy up.”

Stratton felt the Raiders’ energy ramp up, too.

“You could definitely tell it was a huge momentum shift,” she said. “I feel like we had all the confidence after that goal. We had all the power, and we were really in control for the rest of the game.”

Miller followed suit with her goal less than four minutes later. As the Raiders tightened defensively during the next 25 minutes with a one-goal lead, Stratton cleared the ball from her defensive half, long enough for Flesch to run underneath it about 30 yards from goal. She settled the ball, took an extra touch and slotted the Raiders’ third, stress-relieving goal.

“It gets so tense at the end of these games, but sealing that in the final minutes definitely gave us some relief,” Flesch said.

Explorers coach Brian Hoener said the Raiders’ relentless offensive attack, especially in the second half, gave his team fits.

“We knew that we were going to have to take some chances and go forward, and they got behind us a little bit more than I would have liked, but they’re a handful to defend,” Hoener said. “It’s difficult to manage multiple people who can score. I think that’s one of the things they do very well. They’re dangerous with several different people. They come at you in waves.”

Hoener also said the Raiders’ tenacity on 50/50 balls made life difficult for the Explorers. 

“They were faster to the ball, a little more physical than us, better in the air, better with some aerial challenges,” he said. “They made us uncomfortable by how hard they played. They played harder than us today and put us in a bit of an uncomfortable spot.”

Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin and Litchfield will play at 10 a.m. Saturday for the right to play QND for the sectional crown. Sacred Heart Griffin has ended QND’s season each of the previous two seasons — in the 2023 regional title game and the 2024 sectional championship.

The Raiders are unafraid of a third straight postseason clash with the Cyclones.

“We want them,” Flesch said. “We’ve had some battles. Every time we play them, it’s a battle. We have a strong team, and if we keep playing hard and how we did in the second half, I think we have a really good chance.”

Maybe the third time’s the charm. Maybe Miller has more heroics up her sleeve.

“Of course,” she said. “Of course.”