The Helias Lady Crusaders entered the Class 3 girls soccer state quarterfinals with a reputation for defensive resilience, but they were ultimately outmatched by the top‑seeded Fort Zumwalt South Bulldogs.
Two second‑half goals settled the contest, with Araceli Perez and Skylar Atrienza opening the scoring before Brielle Gilbert sealed the result from the penalty spot.
Coach Jon DeSha acknowledged that his side was not the strongest on paper, yet he emphasized a strategy designed to neutralize the Bulldogs’ prolific offense, which had posted a 22‑0 aggregate in the district tournament.
Early in the match, Liza Kemna launched a 50‑yard strike toward the Bulldogs’ goal, while Jonna Holee tested the crossbar just 15 seconds after kickoff, offering a glimpse of Helias’ attacking intent.
Reagan Schmitz earned the Crusaders’ only corner, but Jenna Roark’s ensuing shot was comfortably saved, keeping the score level heading into the break.
A Tight Battle in Missouri
At halftime, Helias held an 8‑6 shot advantage despite being out‑possessed, with Sofia Doolittle disrupting the Bulldogs’ midfield rhythm.
The second half saw a dramatic shift as Fort Zumwalt South outshot Helias 14‑3, and Emma Brown made 11 saves before conceding the decisive penalty.
The Bulldogs will now face second‑ranked Rockwood Summit in the semifinals, extending their streak of six consecutive Final Four appearances.
Helias concludes the season with an 18‑6 record and a four‑year run of district titles, a testament to Coach DeSha’s pride in his team’s perseverance.