Stover freshman Gracie Thompson’s second goal — a drive over the head of Sacred Heart’s keeper — was the difference-maker Wednesday in a 3-2 victory at Clover Dell Park in Sedalia.
Thompson scored off the assist from freshman Emily Bauer 15 minutes into the match, and Bauer notched her own on a boot from outside the box, securing a 2-0 Lady Bulldog lead before half.
Seven minutes into the second period, senior Emma Rollings beat her mark to the ball — a sequence prompted by sophomore Lauren Martin’s corner kick — and cut the deficit to 2-1 with a quick strike.
Sacred Heart senior Tori Migliazzo netted a loose ball from 10 yards out with five minutes to play. The Lady Gremlins, with no reserves, pressured Stover in the closing minutes but remained one goal short at the final whistle.
Stover head coach Chris Witte said he expected a late charge from the Lady Gremlins.
“We just threw numbers behind the ball,” Witte said. “I dropped a couple of my more sure-footed girls back there and just deflected. We knew they were going to come at us hard.”
The Lady Bulldogs (4-6) were shut out in all but one match last season. No stranger to playing shorthanded, Stover boosted its roster to 19 with a large freshman class.
Because the team is young, however, Witte said Stover is capable of coasting against dangerous opponents.
“We’re still not playing a full game,” Witte said. “We kind of got comfortable … They got up two, and they let their foot off the gas a little bit.”
Sacred Heart girl’s soccer endures its first 0-3 start since 2015. That team defeated Stover, 9-0.
The Lady Gremlins are scheduled to host Father Tolton 5 p.m. Monday, April 17 at Clover Dell Park in Sedalia, and slated to host Knob Noster the following Tuesday.
Stover plays its third road match of the week 5 p.m. Thursday at Dixon. Despite the long week, the team can avenge an April 1, double-overtime loss to its Lady Bulldog counterparts.
“That’s one I’d like to get back,” Witte said.
