Waterloo’s Ali Scace kicks the ball during Monday’s 7-0 win at home over Jerseyville. For more photos from the game, visit www.republictimes.net/photo-store. (Alan Dooley photo)

All three local girls soccer teams prepare to enter regional play with dreams of adding more hardware to their respective gyms. 

Waterloo is in Class 2A while Columbia and Gibault are both in Class 1A. 

The Bulldogs (12-2-3) lost 2-0 to Mississippi Valley Conference nemesis Triad last Wednesday, but bounced back to beat Jerseyville at home Monday on Senior Night.

Waterloo and Triad were tied 0-0 at halftime before the Knights notched two second half goals to win. The Bulldogs outshot Triad 10-8 in the contest.

“We played a solid game, just came out on the losing end,” Waterloo head coach Chad Holden said.

On Monday, senior Sydney Luedeman scored twice to set a new career goals record for WHS girls soccer in a 7-0 win.

Sydney Stephens, Natalie Gum, Ellie Dirnbeck, Karleigh Daniels and Sierra Berg also scored for the ‘Dogs, who won at Mascoutah on Tuesday and close the regular season with a rematch at home against Triad on May 8.

Holden had high praise for Luedeman, who has scored 86 career goals at Waterloo. She leads the Bulldogs with 22 goals and four assists this season.

“She has been a big part of our program the last four years and has scored some very important goals in those four years,” Holden said. “Hopefully she will continue to score some more in the next few weeks.”

Waterloo will play in the Bethalto Regional, taking on the winner of Jacksonville vs. Civic Memorial on May 16. With a win, the Bulldogs would face either Rochester or Highland for the regional title on May 18. The sectional is in Marion, with the supersectional in Rochester.

“We have been playing very well lately,” Holden said. “We really want to keep the momentum going into the postseason. It’s been a great year so far, but we still have a lot of soccer to play and we are really looking forward to what we could do in the postseason.”

Injured Eagles play on
Columbia (19-3) keeps grinding out wins despite battling through several injuries.

Taylor Parks is recovering from a concussion; Fae Harrell has an ankle injury; Rylee Iorio had her appendix removed; Mary Gasaway has a back issue; and both Casey Wagner  and Emma Fromme have knee injuries.

“All but Emma should be back for the playoffs,” Columbia head coach Jamey Bridges said.

Columbia won 2-0 at Alton last Wednesday, with Kennedy Jones scoring both goals on assists from Sophia Bonaldi.

The Eagles played in the Tournament of Champions in Iowa over the weekend, winning two of three games. 

Columbia defeated St. Francis, 3-2, with Haley Glover scoring twice and Jones adding a goal. The Eagles then defeated Lemont, 2-1, with Lauren Roderick and Jones scoring the goals.

In the title game, Columbia lost 1-0 to Peoria Notre Dame.

On Monday, Columbia won 6-0 at Mehlville. Bonaldi and Glover scored two goals each with Jones and Alison Carr adding a goal and assist apiece.

On Tuesday, Columbia blasted Salem by the lopsided score of 17-0.

Jones continues to lead the Eagles in scoring with 38 goals and 13 assists prior to Tuesday’s win. 

Mattea Baumann has been stellar in net filling in for the injured Iorio.

Columbia closes out the regular season Thursday at home against O’Fallon. 

The Eagles hold the top seed in the Class 1A Metropolis Regional, and will play the winner of Anna-Jonesboro vs. Metropolis this coming Tuesday. With a win, Columbia would face either Murphysboro or Harrisburg for the regional title on May 11. 

Columbia hosts both the sectional and supersectional rounds.

Hawks post first win
The Gibault soccer team won its first game of the season, and it came on Senior Night over Freeburg on Monday.

The Hawks scored four second half goals in the 4-2 victory. Abby Phelps scored twice, with Abby Ready and Melanie Rueter adding the other goals.

Freshman Brooke Biffar added two assists.

Gibault will battle Breese Central to close out regular season play on Thursday.

The Hawks, who have played mostly Class 2A teams this spring, will compete in the Class 1A Freeburg Regional. Gibault opens against Freeburg this coming Tuesday, and with a win would face either Althoff or Mt. Carmel for the regional title on May 11.

Gibault tied Althoff, 3-3, on April 14.