‘They were just the better team today’: Columbia ends QND’s season in Class 1A super-sectional

VIRDEN, Ill. — Makayla Patton, Sage Stratton and the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team’s state dreams were dashed one victory shy of the final four on Saturday, but the sting of a 6-1 loss to Columbia in the Class 1A North Mac Super-Sectional did not hurt as bad as it could have, thanks in large part to two factors.

The Raiders were in a position to play for a trip to state in the first place, and Patton, Stratton and the other three seniors got a taste of state glory as freshmen when the Raiders won the Class 1A state title.

“I can be thankful for that,” Patton said.

Thankful seemed to be the optimum word.

“I’m super thankful,” Stratton said. “It’s bittersweet. You want to make it to state, but we got really far. People doubted us, but I think we proved a lot of people wrong. I’m so proud of this.”

Patton also walks away knowing she netted a goal her final high school game. She scored with 16:15 left in the second half to trim the Raiders’ deficit to 3-1, but the Eagles poured in three goals in the next 11 minutes to put the game out of reach.

“That definitely brought our energy up for a little bit, but it just didn’t stay that way,” Patton said of her goal.

The goal was the 98th of Patton’s career.

“We were hoping she could get to 100,” said QND coach Mark Thomas, whose team finishes the season with a 15-8-1 record. “We played a very difficult schedule. She had a great career. I’m excited to see her next year at Quincy University.”

Columbia senior defender Emily Rose got the scoring started on a shot from 30 yards out in the 16th minute. The Eagles cashed in again in the 37th minute when QND goalkeeper Tessa Porter got caught out of position coming out of her box to chase a ball approaching the end line. Columbia freshman midfielder Alaina Rains beat Porter to the ball and played it toward the box, where Madi Ross lofted a shot into an empty net to extend the Eagles’ lead to 2-0.

“We knew coming into today that we would have to play our best game of the season,” Thomas said. “I thought we played really well in the first half, and we were down 2-0.”

The Eagles capitalized on another Raiders miscue early in the second half when Reese Woelfel stole Bayley Weisenberger’s free kick about 40 yards from goal. Woelfel found Rains, who scored the Eagles’ third goal with 31:29 left.

“They had one really good shot to go up 1-0, then we had some mistakes, and they took advantage,” Thomas said. “I think every mistake we had, they took advantage, especially in the second half.”

Stratton tipped her imaginary cap to the Eagles, which she said made life difficult in the middle third of the pitch.

“They were definitely a little more technical and just better than us in the midfield, winning those balls and connecting,” Stratton said. “They were just the better team today, and you have to respect them.”

Thomas likewise commended the Eagles for their cohesiveness and relentless pressure.

“You have to give credit to the other team sometimes,” Thomas said. “We told them, ‘Hey, go win a state championship next week.’ I think they can do it. I thought whoever won this game would win the state title. It’s still to be determined, but I think they have a really good chance.”

Eagles coach Jamey Bridges appreciated those encouraging words, but he acknowledged there’s work still to be done. Columbia will face Williamsville in the state semifinals June 5 at North Central College.

“We feel good, but we have to take care of business,” Bridges said. “You never know what the emotions are going to be like. There are a lot of nerves. We’ve been here, and our coaching staff has been here, so we just want to take care of business.”