Ursuline ends St. Vincent’s run in state quarterfinals

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It was a tough day for the St. Vincent soccer team.
It took a minute but once Ursuline’s offense started rolling it never stopped.
The Bears handed the Indians a 7-0 defeat at The Bank of Missouri Soccer Complex on Saturday, ending St. Vincent’s season one win short of the final four.
The Indians finished the season at 16-5 and that is what St. Vincent coach Todd Strattman focused on after the game.
“We made it here. We’re still in my mind a 1A school and what we just did in 3A, I’m so proud of them,” Strattman said. “That’s just their 110% determination.”
The Indians came into the game with the Bears on an offensive run scoring 33 goals in the last seven game, including 19 in their district tournament. They did not have any sort of luck against Ursuline, who were the aggressive team from the opening kickoff.
“I think there were a little quicker to the ball,” St. Vincent Todd Strattman said, “a little stronger.”
The Bears finally broke through in the 23rd minute on a corner kick to give Ursuline a 1-0 lead. The Bears would continue their relentless attack scoring three goals in three minutes in the first half and added another with a 30-yard shot with eight minutes before halftime for a 4-0 margin at the break. The Bears outshot the Indians 8-0 in the half.

Katherine Kozeny and MaryClaire Imig scored two goals each to lead the Bears in the game.
The offense for the Indians found some traction late in the second half as Cailyn Prost and Lana Adams had a few good chances, but it just wasn’t St. Vincent’s day.
However, one could argue that the Indians program is ahead of schedule. After seven senior starters graduated last year, the 2023 season was originally supposed to be a transition year. Led by a team of freshmen and sophomores, the Indians won more games than the previous two seasons and returned to the state tournament after falling to Notre Dame-St. Louis last season in the district title game. It is the second time in the last three seasons that St. Vincent has been in the Class 3 state tournament.
St. Vincent goalkeeper Jocelynn Leible finished her first season in front of the net with 10 shutouts to her name.
“I don’t have one bad thing to say about any kid on the team,” Strattman said. “I thought we gave 110 percent all year long. We played hurt. We’ve had bruised, knees, ankles, broken fingers and our keeper was wrapped up today.”
Ursuline Academy will move on to the Class 3 Final Four where they will take on Fort Zumwalt South in the semifinal on Friday.
As for St. Vincent, they will graduate three seniors, and bring back a now experienced core of players.
“I think we will come back stronger,” Strattman said.