The Perryville girls soccer team played three games in four days last week and outscored their opponents 20-1.
On April 25, the Lady Indians (7-4) beat DeSoto (8-5) 8-1, giving up their only goal in the three-game stretch.
“The girls are really coming together,” said Perryville coach Dwayne Hadler. “It’s so pleasing to see. It’s difficult with the injuries we had and not enough people, but they’re really coming together.”
Ava Ernst scored 5 goals and had an assist, Emma Blechle had 2 goals and 2 assists, Coraline Gremaud had a goal and Jewel Riney had 4 assists.
“Jewel’s been playing really well,” Hadler said. “We created lots and lots of chances, but we weren’t able to finish. One aspect we’ve worked on is playing three balls behind the defense. Our opponents are having a hard time with that.”
Perryville opened conference play on April 24, traveling to Festus and leaving with a 4-0 victory.
“The girls really played well again against a much improved Festus team,” Hadler said. “Our defensive backs, LeeAnn King, Alexa Hagan, Reese Behrle and Caroline Gremaud played great tonight. Especially our center backs Reese and Caroline. They contained the potent offensive threat of Festus. Festus has the second leading scorer in the St Louis area.”
Ernst has 23 goals on the season, leaving her tied with St. Vincent’s Lana Adams and Festus’ Kaylin Brewer for the No. 2 spot in the St. Louis area, according to STLtoday.com. Adams is No. 2 in assists, and Ernst is No. 10 with 10, followed by Riney, in a three-way tie for 11th with 9. Adams and Ernst are second and third, respectively, in total points with 61 and 56. Brewer is sixth at 52.
Riney had 2 goals, Blechle had a goal and an assist, Ernst had a goal and 2 assists, and Lilly Cowell had the shutout and win in goal.
On April 23, the Lady Pirates hosted Bonne TerreNorth County, recording an 8-0 victory in 75 minutes. Ernst had 6 goals and 1 assist, Riney had 2 goals and 2 assists, Madeleine Gremaud had 2 assists, and Blechle had 2 assists. Cowell had the win and shutout in goal.
“The girls are really buying into our system of play,” Hadler said. “Our central midfield, of Madeleine Gremaud, Emma Blechle and Jewel Riney was exceptional, winning 50/50 balls and playing them forward to Ava, then joining in the attack.”
Perryville was scheduled to play at Sikeston on April 29, then travel to Windsor on May 1 before taking on St. Vincent (10-2) — who beat St. Francis Borgia 4-0 on April 25 and were scheduled to host Saxony Lutheran (2-5) on Monday — in a crosstown rivalry game on Friday.
