Helias has shown it can play with the state's best.
On Saturday afternoon, it looked like the Lady Crusaders were going to finally break through with a victory. Then it slipped away.
Visitation Academy scored two late goals to steal a 2-1 win away from Helias at the 179 Soccer Park in Jefferson City.
"It's kind of gut-wrenching because our girls play so hard," Helias head coach Brad Dempsey said. "We ask them to leave it all on the field, and they do it every game. That's three losses in a row by one goal. Visitation and St. Dominic (a 1-0 loss Monday night) are two of the top teams in the state. We know we can play with them. We have to believe that we can beat them."
It certainly seemed it was going to happen when Helias took a 1-0 lead with 18:02 remaining in the game. The Lady Crusaders capitalized on one of their few chances when Becky Roberts headed home a corner kick off the foot of Taylor Hagenhoff.
"That was a great goal," Dempsey said. "I felt good about it, just scoring a goal. I was happy we scored. I wanted the clock to run out as fast as possible, because I could tell on the girls' faces that they still, I don't know if they still 100 percent believe they should beat that team. I'm not for sure. I believe they should, but I don't know if they do. Some of them do, but all of them have to.
"We will get there, we will get to that point. I'm going to be excited when we do."
Visitation, which had been pressuring all game long, finally broke through with 10:38 to go. Abby Grimes came up with a supreme individual effort, dribbling through a few defenders on the right side and blasting a shot into the lower right-hand corner of the goal to knot the game.
Natalie Breeden then came up with the winner with 5:38 left, sending a header into the goal off a corner kick.
"They made some great individual plays to beat us," Dempsey said.
Helias was lucky to stay level at halftime. Visitation held a 9-1 advantage in shots in the opening half, including a 6-1 edge in shots on goal.
Superb play from Helias goalkeeper Liz Czarnecki kept the game scoreless. The senior was required to make a couple diving saves, and kept a pair of point-blank breakaway chances out of the net.
Czarnecki sacrificed her body on one of those breakaways, taking a kick to the ribs while making a second save on a rebound. After exiting the game for a few minutes, Czarnecki returned for the remainder of the match but was seen holding a bag of ice on her ribs after the game.
"First half, they had a lot of opportunities, Liz almost got hurt," Dempsey said. "She's tough. She played a great game."
Visitation didn't have any quality chances in the second half until netting their two goals. University of Kentucky signee Jade Klump rocketed a shot off the crossbar on a breakaway with 40 seconds left in the game.
Visitation held a 15-3 edge in shots for the game, including a 11-3 advantage in shots on goal.
Helias lost the JV game 2-1. Julie Harris scored the Lady Crusaders' goal, which was assisted by Emma Wyrick.
III
Helias rebounded with a 2-0 victory later Saturday against Trinity Catholic.
Emma Wyrick put the Lady Crusaders on the scoreboard in the first half with an unassisted goal.
Maddie Lammers put on the finishing touches with an unassisted goal in the second half.
LIz Czarnecki recorded the shutout in goal for Helias.
Helias (2-4) travels Monday to Kirksville.
Helias won the JV game 1-0.
Sydnee Kliethermes did a bit of everything for the Lady Crusaders. The sophomore scored the lone goal and also played a half in the nets. Katey Hunt assisted on Kliethermes' tally.
Olivia Wolken played the other half in net for the Lady Crusaders (3-2-1).