It's over—after 7 straight we fell to the T-Wolves, all in the blink of an eye.
We seemed to be having most of the opportunity and most of the possession, but then the T-Wolves got a ball forward into the box where we fouled. PK.
Less than 3 minutes later Macy Ruffalo hit this beautiful, tough-angle shot that was probably a cross, but still, made it 2-0—the final score.
We kept battling, hit a couple of posts, but we just couldn't get a ball into the net. Southwest stayed organized, changed formations at a key moment to finish off the win.
Congrats to Coach Pendleton and his girls—great season, a great state title.
Our seniors were just a phenomenal team-first group that should leave that legacy for us to build on for next year. They always played hard, and played for one another. And they cared about our school and our program. Thank you, Caroline Romme and Brigid Linder and Anna Woltering and Itsy McCormick and Katelyn Heying and Hania Crow and Chyna Schiltz-Ragsdale. It was an honor to coach you.
Stats. First Half: Saints: Shots: 11 (6). Corners. 4 (K. Heying 2. Klanke. Linder)
T-Wolves: Shots 5 (4) Corners. 2
6:33 Ruffalo (give and go followed by a great through ball down the left sideline)
Second Half: Shots: 6 (3). Corners. 3 (K. Heying 2. Klanke).
T-Wolves: Shots: 2 (0). Corners. 0.
KC Star:
Blue Valley Southwest stuns Aquinas for 5A girls soccer championship
NORTH NEWTON, KAN.
For the last six years, St. Thomas Aquinas has ended Blue Valley Southwest’s season. Not this year.
BV Southwest beat Aquinas 2-0 to win the Class 5A girls soccer championship on Saturday.
“We’ve lost to them (Aquinas) every year,” BV Southwest coach Jason Pendleton said. “It’s really special to get this win over them.”
For the Timberwolves, bringing home their first state championship is extra special after beating Aquinas.
“Coming into this and them thinking they were going through,” sophomore Gracely Briley said. “It made it a little bit more sweeter.”
After their first match of the season, a 1-0 Aquinas win, was called because of lightning, there was unfinished business for BV Southwest. A 40-minute lightning delay put a hold on everything, but when the game resumed, BV Southwest supplied the fireworks.
It started when Briley knocked home the first goal on a penalty kick in the 31st minute. Briley slipped to the turf, and then took off running — and so did the Timberwolves.
Minutes later, sophomore Macy Ruffalo hit a lob over the head of Aquinas goalkeeper Nicole McEnroe to give the Timberwolves a 2-0 lead in the 33rd minute.
“I wish I could say that was intentional,” Ruffalo said. “I was trying to place it in the box and got lucky.”
Shot after shot, Aquinas put the pressure on BV Southwest and the Timberwolves never relented. Aquinas took 11 total shots, and junior Jillian Patton made five saves.
“Jill has been solid all season,” Briley said. “We wouldn’t be the same team without her in net.”
Another corner kick went nowhere as Patton remained a wall in net all match long.
“I gave it my all,” Patton said. “It’s an amazing feeling to break their streak.”
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