The Helias Lady Crusaders are figuring things out.
And with the start of the postseason just around the corner, they've picked a great time to do it.
"We're settling on our personnel, both in our starting lineup and the girls who can come off the bench and give us some energy," Helias coach Brad Dempsey said Tuesday night after the Lady Crusaders blanked the Camdenton Lady Lakers 4-0 at the 179 Soccer Park. "Our rotation is settling in."
And with an eye toward the postseason, Tuesday night's matchup was a potential Class 3 District 13 title preview. Helias is the No. 1 seed in the event, while Camdenton is seeded second.
"We wanted to set the tone of what kind of opponent we're going to be in districts," Dempsey said. "But that was all."
That's because there can be a big difference between a late-season matchup and a postseason clash, which would be played at Camdenton,
"If we win our semifinals, it's at their field and it's a totally different scenario," Dempsey said. "If they come out and start the game like they played in the second half, it's a battle."
The Lady Crusaders scored twice in little more than a minute in early in the first half. Kendall Smith got the Lady Crusaders on the board 10 minutes into the contest on a goal assisted by Kayla Yanskey.
Smith then picked up an assist on a goal by Lauren Alexander just 70 seconds later.
It was a heck of a birthday present for the Helias senior.
"Kendall has been a real leader this season," Dempsey said. "She really wants it and cares and it showed tonight."
Helias made it 3-0 with about 14 minutes to go in the first half when Emma Wyrick scored on a free kick.
"She's a great player who has played all over the field this year," Dempsey said. "She's naturally a good defender and it has been a great move for her."
The scoring came after an emphasis on attacking during practice.
"It was good, we got a lot more shots on goal, we had more corners," Dempsey said.
The final goal came with less than three minutes remaining in the contest on a score by Sydney Kliethermes.
It was Senior Night for the Lady Crusaders. Among the players honored along with their parents in a pregame ceremy were Smith, Kliethermes, Morgan Rundle, Abby Farrow, Janie McCurren, Katlyn Cowell, Maddie Lammers and Taryne Barton.
"This is a fun group," Dempsey said. "They've been great with their teammates, they have been great leaaders."
Helias (9-12-1) is scheduled to close the regular season Thursday at home against Hickman. The JV game will start at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity contest around 6:45 p.m.
Camdenton falls to 15-9.
Helias won Tuesday's JV game 2-0.