PREP SOCCER: Stingy Redbirds blank West; Cavies, CM post tourney wins

Pete Hayes, phayes@thetelegraph.com

 Updated 8:08 am CDT, Friday, March 22, 2019

Photo:

Pete Hayes | Telegraph File Photo

Gracie Reels of Carlinville (15) had a pair of assists in her team’s 3-1 victory over Auburn in the quarterfinals of the Carlinville Spring Cup Thursday at Blackburn College. Reels is shown in action against Champaign St. Thomas More in last season’s Decatur Lutheran Class 1A Sectional championship game.

The Alton Redbirds have developed a penchant for being stingy so far this season. They simply don’t like surrendering goals.

Alton (5-1) notched its fifth shutout in six games Thursday night at Belleville West, blanking the Maroons 2-0. The only game the Redbirds lost, a 2-1 decision to O’Fallon in the Metro Cup tourney, was the only game in which Alton has allowed a goal.

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“The girls did exactly what I asked of them,” Alton coach Gwen Sabo said, “and it paid off with a huge away conference win.”

The Redbirds came into Thursday’s game on the heels of a 5-0 nonconference win Wednesday over Southwestern. Thursday’s game was the Southwestern Conference opener for each team.

After a scoreless first half, the Redbirds went to work quickly in the second half on a goal by Tori Schrimpf, assisted by Maggie Evans.

“I thought we had a bit of a slow start,” Sabo said, “but started getting control of the ball towards the end of the first half. I challenged them at halftime to step up the intensity and play with purpose and we scored from the opening kickoff.”

Nine minutes later, Alton’s Haylie Butler scored to make it 2-0.

“We strung six or seven passes together and the ball ended up in the back of the net,” Sabo said. “I had several players rise to the occasion tonight and filled positions they normally don’t play.”