Lady Crusaders earn comeback win in soccer

Helias forward Sydnee Kliethermes takes aim for a shot on goal following a run into the box.
Helias forward Sydnee Kliethermes takes aim for a shot on goal following a run into the box.

The Helias Lady Crusaders kept knocking on the door until they finally broke it down.

"It took more time than we would have liked, but we got it done," Helias coach Brad Dempsey said Wednesday night after the Lady Crusaders scored twice in the final seven minutes to defeat the Sedalia Smith-Cotton Lady Tigers 2-1 at the 179 Soccer Park.

Time was definitely working against the Lady Crusaders. After falling behind 1-0 about 10 minutes into the contest, Helias had repeated opportunities to tie it, only to be turned away or see shots go just high or wide.

"It's so hard to score against a quality opponent," Dempsey said. "We've been part of games where we've had 30 shots and lost 1-0."

Helias got the equalizer on its 21st shot of the contest when Lauren Alexander was open in front of the Smith-Cotton net and knocked home a rebound.

"She's a goal scorer," Dempsey said.

The freshman reserve proved that about four minutes later when she took a pass from Sydnee Kliethermes and lined a shot into the net for what turned out to be the game-winner.

"I wanted to get some speed on the wing and she definitely provides that," Dempsey said. "She's already had a great season, she's scored double-digit goals on the JV level, and she's a great creator for us."

Smith-Cotton (10-2) got on the board in the first half when Jessica Coble scored after a run. Coble had earlier broken free in transition, only to have Helias keeper Ashley Rehagen turn her away with a good save.

"She's a fantastic player and she capitalized when we made a couple of mistakes," Dempsey said.

Despite being down 1-0, Dempsey was more than pleased with the play of the Lady Crusaders at intermission.

"That was the best half of soccer we've plaeyd all year," he said. "We were moving the ball, we were controlling the game, we had the best of then play.

"No excuses, we were down 1-0. But I was very happy with the way we were playing. We looked like a soccer team."

That carried over to the second half as the Lady Crusaders kept up the offensive pressure before finally breaking through for the win.

"The girls stepped up and played, that's all we can ask," Dempsey said.

The win can provide some validation for the Lady Crusaders, who are working through in-season formation and position changes.

"We've struggled with players seeing the big picture and internalizing things," Dempsey said. "We don't have selfish players, but we need to see that we are a team and they just need to go out and play."

The Lady Crusaders (7-5-1) will play a pair of games Friday in the Capital City Shootout at the 179 Soccer Park. Helias will take on Lee's Summit North at 4 p.m. before taking on Lee's Summit West at 7 p.m.