St. Vincent girls soccer team clips Jackson 2-1

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The St. Vincent girls soccer team had extra motivation against visiting Jackson on Wednesday.

That's because St. Vincent lost to Jackson on penalty kicks each of the last two years.

"That was one of the first things coach talked about," St. Vincent senior Storm French said.

No PKs were needed this time. St. Vincent won 2-1 in a well-played, evenly contested game between strong programs.

"It felt really nice to beat them," St. Vincent junior Holly Cissell said.

St. Vincent's Holly Cissell, center, celebrates with teammates Kayla Seabaugh, left, and Courtney Heberlie after scoring against Jackson during the second half Wednesday in Perryville, Mo. Check out more photos at semoball.com. (Fred Lynch)

St. Vincent, which has advanced to the Class 1 final four the past three seasons, improved to 15-1.

"This is the kind of team that will help us get ready for the playoffs and the kind of team we'll see if we make it far in the playoffs," said St. Vincent coach Dusty Wengert, whose squad won a state title in 2009 and finished as runner-up last year. "It will make us better."

Jackson co-coach Justin McMullen felt the same way after his club fell to 9-6.

"I thought it was a very evenly played match between two traditional top teams in the area," he said. "I felt it was a high quality match. I think it was good for both teams to help get ready for the postseason.

"We're a little banged up right now, but I'm happy with what we put out there."

Jackson's Hailey Mouser, left, battles St. Vincent's Courtney Brown during Wednesday's game in Perryville, Mo. (Fred Lynch)

St. Vincent had numerous dangerous chances. Many of them were created by impressive runs by speedy, diminutive senior Abby Lappe.

"For 4 feet, 11 inches, she's dynamite," Wengert said. "She's the energy player on our team."

St. Vincent also created several strong scoring opportunities off about a half-dozen precise corner kicks by French, who has signed to play soccer for Southeast Missouri State.

"She has taken 98 percent of our corner kicks this year," Wengert said. "She's really good at it."

Jackson also had its share of prime chances, but both goalkeepers were up to the task.

Jackson goalkeeper Sarah Blanton deflects the ball as St. Vincent's Abby Lappe attempts a header Wednesday.

Jackson freshman Sarah Blanton and St. Vincent junior Miranda Unterreiner, who was making her 2012 debut, both recorded several key stops.

"They both played well," Wengert said.

Unterreiner played for St. Vincent two years ago but was not on the team last season. She joined this year's squad late and only became eligible Tuesday after participating in the required 14 practices.

"I didn't want to throw her in the fire against Perryville her first day to be eligible, so instead I threw her in the fire against Jackson," Wengert said with a laugh.

Jackson broke on top just more than 16 minutes into the game when sophomore Hailey Mouser scored off an assist from junior Hailey Callis.

That 1-0 lead stood until late in the first half.

"The first half was kind of iffy," French said. "We weren't really playing our game. We knew we had to step it up."

St. Vincent tied it with four minutes left before the break.

Lappe beat several defenders on one of her patented runs and sent a ball into the middle.

French was on the receiving end and got behind the defense. She was in all alone against Blanton and buried a shot into the lower left corner.

"I just had to run through it and hope for the best," said French, a standout defender who Wengert said was brought up front briefly to try to get St. Vincent's offense going.

Jackson nearly regained the lead early in the second half when a shot lofted from about 35 yards out got over Unterreiner but clanged off the crossbar.

St. Vincent went ahead for good with just less than 29 minutes left.

Senior Courtney Heberlie passed to Cissell along the left side.

Cissell was at an extreme angle and didn't appear to have much of a shot, but she chipped a high ball toward the far post. It went over Blanton and curled into the corner of the net.

"To be honest, I was trying to pass it, but a goal is better," Cissell said with a smile. "It looked good going in."

Both sides had several more solid opportunities, but St. Vincent's 2-1 lead held up.

"I thought we played really well," Lappe said. "We always play a lot better against the good teams. We know we can't lay back."

Added French: "It's definitely a big win for us."

Jackson won't have to wait long for a rematch. The teams will have a rare second meeting this year when they square off next Friday in Jackson.

"We've had three great games with them the last three years and we'll probably have another one next week," Wengert said.