Lady Saints trying season comes to an end

Needing 11 players to have a full team, it’s a legit question each season if St. Patrick will be able to field a team.

A small school with an enrollment around 60, nearly half of the entire enrollment of high school kids are needed for a soccer team when splitting up the boys and the girls.

“That’s the blessing and the curse of a small school. The blessing is I know these kids, intimately. I know them so well. The curse is I would love more. It’s a sport where you need 11 just to start,” Lady Saints coach Father Michael Black said.

Then you factor in having to replace one of your top goal scorers in school history and a five member senior class, made for a trying season for the Lady Saints this year.

It came to an end on Monday, losing 10-0 to Harrison County in the first round of the 38th District tournament.

The Lady Saints ended the year 0-12-1, outscored 102-3. But all was not lost. They had athletes participate that never have before, some playing for the first time in their lives. Others picked up a love for the game while playing other sports, even other fall sports and at times would have to leave one game early to go to the next.

“We lost a lot of talent at the end of last year. Some of that talent was almost irreplaceable at a certain point, but I got girls out here, new girls that have never played before. I’ve seen them blossom. I’ve seen them blossom socially, athletically, mentally fall in love with the game. It’s a beautiful game. It’s God’s favorite sport. I can say that I’m a priest,” Black said.

They also have themselves a reliable goalkeeper, Lillian Klee finishing the year with 231 saves, good for 18th in the state. They’ll have her for three more years, getting quality experience as a freshman. Klee will now focus on basketball, many others either preparing for the next sport or getting ready to attempt a 3-peat in the 39th District for volleyball.

Harrison County left no doubt early on Monday, scoring seven first half goals on their way to the mercy rule victory, but the Lady Saints almost took the game the distance, Jenna Gaunce’s goal with 8:24 remaining the 10th and final one.

“From where we started in July after the dead period to where we ended up today, I mean, we would have been run off the field by anybody in 30 minutes. Lillian has really stepped up. My seniors really stepped up and the newbies, the freshmen, really put in the effort and I think I think there’s a lot to build with. And I think they’re excited to build it,” Black said. “I just want to see some of the technical development increase, our touch on the ball, our shots or passes or just game sense and awareness wherever you’re on the field. And all of that just comes with experience and just playing more. Like I said, I think I had one girl that had never played a competitive sport until she showed up at a varsity field. So just going to take some time for some of that to just naturally develop.”

Lily Winkle started the game in goal and then played up front and scored two goals, Allison Dye had two goals, Gaunce also with two while Haley White, Addison Perraut, Caroline VanHook and Sophia Bowlin all found the back of the net in the contest.

The Fillies move on to Wednesday’s championship, taking on Pendleton County who upset Mason County 3-1 in the second game on Monday. Wednesday’s championship is set for 7 p.m.

FILLIES 10, LADY SAINTS 0

HARRISON COUNTY – 7-3 — 10

SAINT PATRICK – 0-0 — 0

Game Stats

Goals: Harrison — Winkle 2, Dye 2, Gaunce 2, White, Perraut, VanHook, Bowlin

Shots (On Goal): Harrison 34 (25), St. Patrick 2 (2)

Saves: Harrison 2 (Davis 1, Winkle 1), St. Patrick 15 (Klee)

Corner Kicks: Harrison 7, St. Patrick 0

Fouls: Harrison 2, St. Patrick 2

Offsides: Harrison 9, St. Patrick 0

Records: Harrison County 5-12, St. Patrick 0-12-1