GODFREY – During his travels around the Southwestern Conference as a player and later as a coach, Jeff Hayes has learned plenty of lessons. He’s learned it’s one of the toughest leagues in the state. He’s learned plenty about the styles of each school’s programs – both boys and girls.

And during his first season as the head coach of the Alton High girls soccer team, Hayes learned how tough – and how satisfying – a victory over a conference opponent can be for the Redbirds to attain.

It took overtime penalty kicks, but the Redbirds did just that in the IHSA Class 3A Collinsville Regional. They upset Belleville East and earned a spot against the top-seeded Kahoks in the title match.

And while the final didn’t have as happy an ending for the Redbirds (a 5-0 Kahoks win), Hayes said that overall, the season can be chalked up as successful and as a solid building block for the future. Alton finished 12-6-3.

The Redbirds’ appearance in the regional title game was in itself a goal that some doubted could happen – as late as the eve of the tournament last week, but the Redbirds proved the naysayers wrong with their PK win over the Lancers.

“That game showed how tough this team became,” Hayes said. “We had a good blend of young players and older ones who helped with their experience.”

Alton got off to a 8-0-2 start on the season, including victories over Belleville Althoff, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, Columbia, Springfield High and two over Freeburg. The only non-victories in that streak were a 1-1 draw with city rival Marquette Catholic. And a 1-1 tie with SWC foe O’Fallon.

Alton went 4-6-1 the rest of the way, but one of those losses could actually be as good a barometer of how much the Redbirds have come. They battled perennial state power and SWC foe Edwardsville toe-to-toe before falling 3-2. The Redbirds rallied in the second half to tie it on a goal by Sydney Mossman

But after Mossman’s goal, the Tigers took the ensuing kickoff downfield and Abby Crabtree’s shot clinched the win for Edwardsville.

“We fought back and tied them, which was good to see,” Hayes said. “Sydney’s goal was really nice. She worked for it. But it’s disappointing the lead didn’t last very long.”

Hayes is a former Granite City High School player and previously coached the Warriors’ boys soccer team. He also serves as an assistant coach for the Collinsville High boys soccer team during the fall season.

“Edwardsville is a very good team, don’t get me wrong,” Hayes said. ” There’s a mystique that develops when a team is good for so many years. Sometimes, if you are in awe of a program, you can find yourself behind in a game against them pretty quickly.

“I think our girls are learning the difference. You should always respect your opponent and do all you can to prepare for them, but not be scared of them.”

Hayes knew that if his team was to have a chance of upsetting top-seeded Collinsville in that 3A regional final, things would have to break nearly perfectly. But when the Kahoks went ahead 1-0 in the first five minutes of play, he knew an upset would be even tougher.

“It’s tough to go down early against a team as good as Collinsville, ” Hayes said. “It’s difficult enough to beat a team like that.”

The Redbirds return a strong group of players next season, which Hayes said will be well-prepared. Among them will be junior Bri Hatfield, sophomore Alaina Nasello, junior Katie Kercher, sophomore Morgan Rauscher, senior Lexi Schrimpf, sophomore Calista Cox, junior Taylor Imming and senior Annie Evans.

In goal, Hayes platooned Julia-May Campbell and Michaela Lucas in goal, with Campbell logging about a half of a game more time over the course of the season. Campbell will be a senior next season and Lucas a junior.

“We set some goals at the beginning of the season,” Hayes said. “Those were realistic goals and we achieved many of them.

“With us being such a young team, I wasn’t sure how we would compete at this level. We fell short of some of the goals, but overall, I thought we improved from Day 1 and showed that we definitely can hold our own.”