Last year, Emily Gaebe scored seven goals in a win against Helias.
The Union sophomore didn't get to seven Monday night as the Lady Wildcats took on the Lady Crusaders at the Crusader Athletic Complex. But it sure seemed like she did.
Gaebe, who has already orally committed to the University of Missouri, scored four times and played a part in a fifth as Union topped Helias 5-1.
"We cut her down by three this time," Helias coach Jay Hebenheimer said.
Helias knew what it was facing and had a defender designated to mark Gaebe all over the field.
"It didn't work," Hebenheimer said. "Against a girl with that much strength and that much talent, I'd have to put two on her to stop here and you can't do that."
Gaebe got on the board a little more than three minutes into the game, scoring on a breakaway.
Union got its second goal two minutes later. Helias keeper Emilee Napier stopped a shot by Gaebe, but Logan Baeres was there to score on the rebound.
Helias answered a little less than six minutes into the game when Hannah Loethen drilled a shot into the back of the net, assisted by Izzy Luebbert.
The Lady Crusaders had a chance to tie it midway through half but a liner by Bailey Henson was turned away on a diving stop by the Union keeper.
"We can compete with Union, we did in spurts, we just didn't play our best game," Hebenheimer said,
Union made it 3-1 with 14 minutes to go before halftime when Gaebe scored on a header off a long free kick.
"What are you going to do against a play that well executed?" Hebenheimer asked.
Gaebe got her final two goals with 34 minutes and 22 minutes remaining, respectively.
"All I see is her going to the goal over and over and over again," Hebenheimer said. "She's off the charts talented, she went around some of our strongest players."
The Lady Wildcats finished with a 16-9 edge in total shots.
"Our chances weren't great," Hebenheimer said. "We were cranking shots, just a lot of them weren't well placed or with a lot of power.
"The touch wasn't great tonight, the communication wasn't great tonight. Ultimately, things like that means the game can get away from you like it did for us."
Union, ranked No. 4 in Class 3, is now 15-1 on the season.
"If we're going to accomplish the goals we have, we're going to have to beat a team like Union with a talented player like (Gaebe)," Hebenheimer said. "It may even be Union."
Helias (7-4-1, receiving votes in Class 3) will host Sedalia Smith-Cotton on Wednesday. The JV game, limited ot one half, will start at 5 p.m. The varsity contest will follow around 6 p.m.
In Monday's JV game limited to one half, Union defeated Helias 3-2.