Girls Soccer: St. Charles West Has Strong Start to Season

This just in—the is for real.     

West, a mediocre club last spring, continued its sizzling start on Monday with a hard-fought 2-1 overtime win over rival in a Gateway Athletic Conference North Division battle at Steve Stahl Stadium.    

The Warriors improved to an eye-popping 4-0 and in the process sent a message across the area.    

"We've got all the pieces and when we execute our game plan, we're a pretty tough team," said West first-year coach Andrew Reynolds.    

The Warriors came from out of nowhere to win the Kickoff Classic at Fort Zumwalt East/South last week. They knocked off highly-touted Pattonville 2-1 in the championship contest.     

As if to prove that was no fluke, West bested the tradition-rich Pioneers, who were playing for the first time this season.    

West junior midfielder Abby Lauer scored with 1:45 left in the second of two 10-minute sudden death overtime periods to keep the Warriors' perfect record intact.    

"We all work real well together and that's important," said Lauer. "We have good chemistry and you can see that it works."    

Lauer converted off a cross from junior Brandi Van Booven, who sailed the ball over two defenders right onto the foot of Lauer. She calmly drilled the ball into the open side of the net.    

"She placed it perfectly and I just hit it," said Lauer. "I told myself, "Don't think too much. Just put it in."    

Lauer made no mistake. The tally ended a well-played contest that went well beyond the 80 minutes of regulation time.    

"For the first game of the season, I was pleased," said Duchesne coach Dave Thurmer. "We did some good things."    

Duchesne jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by senior Sarah Skaggs in the 45th minute. Skaggs drilled a high drive that eluded West freshman keeper Miranda Pierce.    

West, which went 13-9 last spring, answered 14 minutes later. Junior sniper Aleesa Mays scored off a well-placed pass from junior Taylor Andrezjewski. It was Mays' fifth goal of the season. Andrezjewski made a lengthy run to set up the score.    

The Warriors' game-winner came in the same fashion. Van Booven broke free and drew a couple defenders to her before she crossed the ball to a wide open Lauer.     

West dominated play late in regulation and into the overtimes. Senor Emily Svoboda created several scoring chances in the extra session.    

"We figured if we kept pushing the ball in there, something good would eventually happen," said Reynolds. "It finally did."    

Lauer said the players were working hard, but getting frustrated down the stretch.

"We were doing things right, but we couldn't score," she said. "We were exhausted and we just kept fighting. I'm sure glad we did."