COLUMBIA — Addressing his team at halftime Monday, first-year Alton girls soccer coach Jeff Hayes first went over tactics. With his team leading Freeburg 2-1 in the season opener at the Metro Cup Tournament, Hayes then paused, looked seriously at his players and told them that how they reacted in the second half would go a long way toward telling what kind of team the Redbirds would be this season.

And while the final score was that same 2-1 margin, Hayes said he was pleased with the result – as well as the effort.

“These girls showed a lot of poise and they never backed down,” he said. “There were times last season that they might have wilted in the second half and given up the lead. But tonight, they kept creating scoring chances.

“We didn’t score in the second half, but we controlled most of the play and created chances. Sometimes, that exactly what you need to do to win games.”

The victory in the Nike Bracket of the three-bracket tourney means Alton (1-0) will advance to play a semifinal at 7:30 p.m. against the winner of Monday’s second semifinal between Belleville Althoff and Breese Mater Dei, the results of which were not available at press time.

The Redbirds, who outshot Freeburg 15-6, demonstrated the determined type of play Hayes discussed early and late in Monday’s victory.

After taking an early lead, Freeburg fought back to tie the score midway through the first half. But instead of withdrawing after that tying goal, Alton stayed the course and got the game-winning goal from Lexi Schrimpf less than three minutes later.

“It was a good start,” Hayes said. “We might not have scored in the second half, but we created chances.”

Still holding the one-goal lead late in the game, the Redbirds withstood some late pressure from Freeburg. And they did it with poise, according to Hayes.

“(Bri) Hatfield holding the ball down in the corner and maintaining possession was the way it’s done,” he said. “And the nice thing is that I didn’t have to tell anybody to get the ball to her or for her to hold it down there.

“This team is a blend of players from different club teams and we have a wide range of ages, so we’re still finding the chemistry,” he said. “But so far, I like what I see.”

Alton sophomore Katie Kercher’s unassisted goal less than five minutes into the game put her team ahead 1-0.

Kercher took over the ball just outside the penalty area, deked right, then left and left three Freeburg defenders in her wake, then beat goalie Hannah Lehman at 35:27.

Freeburg tied the game with 12:30 remaining in the half when Morgan Jetton scored from about 20 yards out. The ball slipped under the crossbar off the outstretched hands of goalie Julia-May Campbell, who was staring the setting sun late in the half.

Schrimpf’s game winner came on a direct free kick from about 45 yards out. She blasted the kick from the right side and under the crossbar in the far left upper corner.

“Deadball restarts are so important,” said Hayes, who learned their importance when playing for legendary soccer coach Gene Baker at Granite City High School. “You can’t waste any chances to score. You have to take advantage of every single opportunity and that’s just what Lexi did. It was a great shot.”

Reach Pete Hayes at 463-2500 or Twitter @HayeserPete