Sports

Eagle Girls Downed by Bombers in Soccer Districts for Second Year

Last year it was 4-0, this year the Bombers beat the Eagles 3-1.

The three teams in girls Class 1 District 4 tournament finished the same order this year as least. had an easy time with in the first round, then overcame top-seeded in the final

Last year it was a 4-0 final. This year, a second-half Sammi Merlotti bending shot that ricocheted off the left post into the goal gave the Eagles their single point of the game.

“Those are the sorts of things we’ve come to expect from her,” Brentwood coach Cory Grage said, “We just needed a couple more today. “

Find out what's happening in Maplewood-Brentwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Merlotti, a senior, has signed to play with St. Louis Community College next year.

See more game photos at Maplewood-Brentwood Facebook. (Like it!)

Find out what's happening in Maplewood-Brentwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Bombers scored twice in the first half, one from each striker, juniors Zoe Smith and Sydney O’Neal. O’Neal scored Burroughs' third goal in the second half.

John Burroughs coach Alan Trzecki said a scary moment for them, three minutes in, was a wake-up call that it was going to be a competitive game.

“They were going to have to play their best,” he said. “After that we started to establish possession and I felt we were winning a lot of balls, on midfield from their goal keeper.”

Grage said the Eagles tried to turn it around in the second half.

“We came out kind of flat,” he said. “We talked at halftime about making that decision to go to the ball and win the 50-50s and challenge every time, and second half was better because of it, but too little too late I guess.”

Grage said plenty of players are coming back next year, with some good prospects coming up. There only three seniors on the roster.

This was the last Brentwood soccer game for seniors Sammi Merlotti, Maddy Lynch and Tracy Habermehl.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Maplewood-Brentwood