Eagles win another regional title

Pictured is the Columbia girls soccer team following its Class 1A regional title victory Friday in Metropolis. (submitted photo)


The Columbia High School girls soccer team cruised to another regional title Friday night with eyes on winning the next few games at home for a trip to state.

In the Class 1A Metropolis Regional, the Eagles outscored Massac County and Murphysboro by a combined scored of 15-1.

Last Tuesday, Kennedy Jones scored four goals and Chloe Graff added a goal and assist in a 7-0 victory over Massac County.

On Friday, Jones scored three goals with two assists and Graff added a goal and assist in an 8-1 title-clinching win over Murphysboro.

The Eagles had been bitten by the injury bug at the end of the regular season but appear to be near full strength for the postseason.

“(I) thought we played well,” Columbia head coach Jamey Bridges said. “We’re finally healthy and have everyone back, so that helps. We overcame the travel both days to really get on top early.”

Jones has 49 goals and 18 assists this season to rank among the top scorers in the St. Louis area.

Graff has 10 goals and 15 assists and Sophia Bonaldi has nine goals and 17 assists for the Eagles, who blasted Roxana in the Columbia Sectional on Tuesday night. 

With its win over the Shells, Columbia will take on the winner of Althoff vs. Marquette for the sectional title at 6 p.m. Friday.

The Eagles lost 2-1 at Althoff back on March 17.

If Columbia should win the sectional crown, it would be at home for the supersectional at 6 p.m. Tuesday night.

Last year, Columbia won a sectional title at home over Althoff, only to fall 1-0 at Quincy Notre Dame in the supersectional.

Gibault (2-15-2) ended its season with a 3-0 loss to Althoff in the Class 1A Freeburg Regional championship game on Friday. 

A relentless offensive attack by the Crusaders proved too much for the young Hawks.

Last Tuesday, Gibault edged Freeburg, 1-0, to advance to the regional final. Freshman Brooke Biffar scored the game-winning goal and classmate Maddie Davis made four saves in net for the shutout.

Waterloo (14-2-3) begins postseason play Wednesday in the Class 2A Bethalto Regional against Civic Memorial.

With a win, the Bulldogs would battle either Rochester or Highland for the regional title at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

The Marion Sectional begins Tuesday.

The Bulldogs pulled out a thrilling 1-0 win over Mississippi Valley Conference nemesis Triad in penalty kicks last Tuesday, marking Waterloo’s first conference win against the Knights.

On Wednesday, Waterloo clinched a share of the MVC title with a 5-1 victory at Highland. Karleigh Daniels, Ali Scace and Sydney Stephens collected a goal and assist each in the win.

Sydney Luedeman leads the team with 24 goals and four assists, followed by Stephens with 11 goals and 11 assists.

Goalkeeper Bailey Bosler has recorded 11 shutouts this season.

Corey Saathoff

Corey is the editor of the Republic-Times. He has worked at the newspaper since 2004, and currently resides in Columbia. He is also the principal singer-songwriter and plays guitar in St. Louis area country-rock band The Trophy Mules.
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