By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Bishop LeBlond wanted to show out on Senior Night Tuesday, and get their nine seniors involved in any way that they could.
The Eagles (11-5) did just that with a 9-1 win over Cameron on Tuesday evening at Eagle Stadium.
LeBlond scored five goals in the first half and four more in the second. Senior Reese Robertson and junior Emily Welter led the way with three goals each. Seniors Shelby McAvoy, Libby Weddle and Olivia Elliott all scored goals of their own in the Eagles' final home game of the regular season.
Weddle's goal ended the game in mercy rule with 17:16 remaining in the second half.
"With it being Senior Night, we had a lot of people out to support us," Weddle said. "It was really important for us to go out there and play our best and play with heart."
"We wanted to get a lot of seniors involved," Robertson added, "and have a lot of them score. And the majority of them did. So, that was good for us."
LeBlond has certainly played with a lot of heart this season. The Eagles have now won eight of their last nine matches and have outscored their opponents a combined 50-9 over their last 10.
With five sophomores and two freshmen playing with nine seniors and three juniors on the same varsity roster, Elliott says learning to play with each other and learning to communicate effectively on the pitch has been a huge key to success after a slow 1-3 start to the season.
"I think it was about learning how to communicate to our under classmen who we had never played with before," she said. "Once we connected passing and communicating, everything came together."
Chad Thompson, who's coaching the LeBlond girls for the first time this year after spending a couple of seasons as a boys' assistant, is hopeful that those underclassmen will learn from this group of seniors, and continue the program's success.
"There's a pretty large group of underclassmen that are playing together and have for years," Thompson said. "So, after we lose all of these seniors, we've got this next group coming, hopefuly, to fill in with leadership."
But before they go, this group of seniors hopes to make history, as LeBlond girls' soccer seeks its first district title since 2011.
With 2020 being wiped out, and with district runner-up finishes in both 2018 and '19, this senior class is extra motivated.
"I think it's a big deal," Elliott said. "Considering the last two district championships we've played in, minus COVID last year, we've taken second. And we haven't taken a plaque since what, 2011? So, it's going to be a big deal for us to even compete for it. So, just looking forward to it."
LeBlond wraps up the regular season at Savannah (8-9) on Thursday and then begin play next Tuesday in the Class 1 District 8 bracket. As the No. 1 seed, the Eagles will play either Guadalupe (5-6) or Cristo Rey (1-9) on May 18 in the semifinal round in their home stadium.
Should No. 2 seed Mid-Buchanan (10-6) get past Kansas City Lutheran (5-8) on the 18th, and LeBlond take care of business, that would make for one entertaining district title on May 20.
LeBlond squeaked by the Dragons 2-0 in Faucett last week. It's tempting to think about a rematch, but Thompson and his team know - first things first.
"That's exactly it," he said. "It's one match at a time. Play every team like they're the best team in the state. You cannot go in thinking, 'Oh we beat them last time.' No. They've got new girls. They're the best team in the state this game. Play them like they are."
Every game from this point on is critical, but Robertson knows that if LeBlond keeps doing what they've been doing, her and classmates' final season could be one for the record books.
"With our momentum, as long as we keep doing what we've been doing, we're going to do well," she said. "We've learned to pass and communicate a lot better. Even within the last couple of games, we just keep progressing. As long as we keep that mentality and just keep working hard, we're going to go far."
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