The high school girls soccer season kicked off this week with two local squads posting impressive victories. 

Columbia opened its 2024 campaign with a 6-1 win at Althoff on Monday in Metro Cup action. 

Maddie Mauch, a senior leader for the Eagles who recorded 28 goals and 19 assists last season, netted two goals and contributed an assist in the season-opening victory. She is a McKendree University commit.

Also enjoying a solid opening game was Sarah Ross, who scored a goal and contributed four assists. 

Also notching goals for the Eagles on Monday were Riley Mathews, Lucy Leitschuh and Reese Woelfel. 

Columbia continued Metro Cup play Tuesday night at Althoff again, this time taking on Alton. The Eagles won that match by the same 6-1 score. Mauch recorded three goals and two assists.

Columbia plays Rochester at Althoff on Thursday. The first home game for the Eagles is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday against Marquette.

Waterloo also stormed out of the gates to open the season, picking up a 3-0 win at Collinsville on Monday. 

The match was scoreless at halftime before senior Liv Colson netted a second half hat trick for the Bulldogs. She is a University of Evansville commit. 

Recording assists for Waterloo were Megan Young with two and Kate Pohl with the other.

Waterloo hosted Belleville East on Tuesday, playing to a 1-1 tie, then plays this coming Monday night at Althoff. 

The Bulldogs will host Mater Dei this coming Tuesday at 5:45 p.m.  

Gibault opened its 2024 campaign Tuesday at Metro East Lutheran, winning 10-0. Emily Richardson netted a hat trick and had one assist. Aubry Thomas and Karmon Grohmann scored two goals each.

The Hawks will battle Breese Central at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville on Wednesday night, then host Maryville Christian at Oerter Park in Columbia on Thursday.

Gibault then battles Roxana at SWIC on Saturday starting at 6 p.m. 

Read a preview of local spring sports teams in the March 27 issue of the Republic-Times.