Redbirds shut out Collinsville 3-0

Alton hangs 3-0 shutout on Kahoks

Pete Hayes, phayes@thetelegraph.com

Updated 11:06 pm, Thursday, April 12, 2018

Photo:

Scott Kane | For The Telegraph

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Alton’s Brianna Hatfield (11) moves the ball against Collinsville’s Catie Knutson Thursday during Southwestern Conference soccer action Thursday at Alton High School. Alton won 3-0.

GODFREY — Alton High’s girls soccer team came into Thursday’s game against Collinsville looking for a way to rebound from a tough-luck loss earlier in the week at Belleville East.

But the Redbirds definitely weren’t reeling. After a convincing 3-0 victory over the Kahoks, Alton found itself at 2-1 in the Southwestern Conference and 6-4-1 overall.

“I think we played pretty well against a team that handled us (4-0) last year,” said Alton midfielder Brianna Hatfield, who scored a second-half goal Thursday. “

It was the fifth victory in the last six games for Alton.

“Our possession was very good and the defense just shut out a very dangerous soccer team,” Alton coach Jeff Hayes said. “It was a good win for us. Collinsville has played well the last couple games coming in.”

The Kahoks, who fell to 5-6-2 overall, are 1-2-1 in the SWC. They were riding a two-game winning streak after wins over Parkway South (6-0) and O’Fallon (3-2).

“Our back line, I don’t think, gets enough credit,” Hayes said. “They‘re really doing a good job.

“The longer we possess the ball well, the better we seem to get,” Hayes said. “That really helps keep pressure off the defense.”

What also helped immensely Thursday was a goal by Maggie Evans with 52.8 seconds left in the first half to put the Redbirds ahead 1-0.

Evans took a through ball from Alaina Nasello, took it into the penalty area and moved around Collinsville goalie Claire Rendleman and into the goal.

“Scoring right before halftime was important,” Hayes said. “We’d had most of the possession time in the half, but hadn’t scored.”

In the second half, Evans helped Hatfield make it 2-0. She sent the ball to Hatfield, who blasted a 35-yard bad-angle shot from left wing into the inside netting on the right side of the goal in the 70th minute. The shot was from just inside the touchline in front of the Redbirds bench.

“That was pure Bri Hatfield,” Hayes said. “She was definitely shooting - that was no cross. There aren’t many players who can score that goal.”

Hatfield, a Florida Gulf Coast recruit, hassix goals on the season.

“I was a little frustrated,” Hatfield said of her goal. “We had chances, but we needed another goal.”

Four minutes later, it became 3-0. Makayla Cox crossed the ball from the left wing to Sydney Schmidt, who blasted a shot from about 20 yards in front of the goal.

The Redbirds outshot Collinsville 10-6. Alton freshman goalie Addison Miller made six saves.

“(Miller) is playing really well,” Hayes said.

Hayes was glad to see the way his team reacted to Monday’s 1-0 loss at East, which came on a late penalty kick goal by the Lancers.

“They were definitely not happy about it,” he said, “and the girls were ready to get back on the field today and play.”