Lady Crusaders blank Lady Lakers in soccer

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.