Girls Soccer Prepares For Rematch Against St. Dominic For The District Title
The girls soccer team is preparing to battle the reigning champs St. Dominic for the district title
Morgan Struttmann (11) dribbles down the field towards the goal in a game earlier this season.
May 20, 2022
The scoreboard read 2-0 on April 26 after the Liberty vs. St Dominic match. Liberty went home with a well-deserved win under their belt over the reigning district champions, but it was so much more than that. This win was the first win any local team has had over St. Dominic since 2019 and Liberty’s first victory against the Crusaders in school history.
On Friday, May 20, it’s the moment both teams have been waiting for. The rematch is set to take place at Troy Buchanan at 5 p.m. It will prove which team deserves to be named this year’s district champions and continue on to compete for a state title.
“This game definitely has more weight to it,” varsity coach Kleekamp said. “This game will end one team’s season and the other team will be named district champ.”
Liberty has defeated Troy (4-13-1) and Howell (12-6-3) in their road to the championship. Liberty ended Howell’s season by a one goal difference. Both goals for Liberty were scored by junior Morgan Struttmann with passes from senior Tess Roberts and sophomore Lola Gianino.
Later in the game, Roberts took a cleat to the face and had to get eight stitches above her eye. The game was a battle, but the Eagles fought hard and earned their spot in the championship.
“Sydney had a fantastic night in goal. She made some key saves for us that kept us in the game,” Coach Kleekamp said about sophomore goalkeeper Sydney Strassemeier, who recently had an arm injury from a previous game. “We are very thankful that she healed up in time for the district games.”
The Crusaders have taken down Helias (0-3-1) and Holt (10-7), and are now ready to face the Eagles, claiming their loss in the last game was due to Prom week.
“We as individuals need to keep doing what we’ve been doing all season long,” Coach Kleekamp said. “If we do all of the little things right as individuals and work together as a team, then we will be successful.”
The Eagles are not afraid to take on the powerful team again, seeing as they have battled all season to get to the championship. They defeated the Crusaders once before, and are ready to put up a fight to keep their season alive.
