Separated by state classification and conference affiliation, the Fox and Windsor girls soccer teams nevertheless have met twice this year and could have played a third time in the Fox Invitational, but the teams were in different pools and missed each other.
In their third tournament of the year together, this one hosted by Hillsboro, the Owls (5-6) and Warriors (6-3-1) were set to tangle in the third-place game on April 19, but it was moved up to the day before at Fox to avoid forecasted heavy storms.
After a scoreless first half, sophomore forward Peyton Wolff and senior midfielder Olivia Williford scored goals 10 minutes apart and Windsor shut out the Warriors 2-0.
Wolff gave the Owls a 1-0 lead at 57:58 when she struck a through-ball.
“It was a one-on-one moment with the goalie (Fox junior Avery McKinnon) and I chipped it over her,” Wolff said. “Once we got that first goal, we got some momentum.”
Windsor junior co-captain Lillie Coleman, a forward, dribbled into the attack zone and the ball was kicked around near the Warrior goal line. As a Fox defender fell into the goal, Williford lunged at the ball.
“I thought it was just going to go in, and I didn’t think the defender was going to slide, so I wasn’t going to touch it,” Williford said. “When the defender slid, I (thought), I’ve got to slide and I can’t remember what hit it, maybe my foot.”
Windsor head coach Mike Hutchison, who marked his 200th career victory at Windsor last year, said the Owls did a lot of good things leading up to Williford’s goal.
“The ball was laying there and she just threw her body at it with reckless abandon to get it across (the goal line),” Hutchison said. “And that’s what it takes in these games where the teams are so evenly matched. You need one or two special plays to get over the hump. We weren’t quite able to do that against Seckman and Northwest (respective losses by 2-1 and 1-0 scores), but you felt it coming and today the girls got the job done.”
Fox senior forward Lyla Stegmann, who leads her team with eight goals and 22 points, created offense in the first half with strong rushes down the left side of the field. Her best chance came late in the half when she dribbled almost to the end line and took a shot on goal that was saved by Windsor junior keeper Haley Rose, who posted her fourth shutout. Rose has played every minute in goal this spring.
“Sometimes that happens in soccer, where you have a good half and in the next you don’t have the same number of chances,” Hutchison said. “(Stegmann) gave us a lot of trouble in the first half. Lucky for us we kept her wide enough so she didn’t have a good angle for her shots.”
“She does get down the wings very well, so we keep her there,” Fox head coach Nate Niehaus said. “She had five goals in the tournament. We played (Windsor) enough so we already know each other. We know who the better players are, and they figured us out.”
With injuries to several starters, Hutchison is filling holes game by game. But all of the players who’ve been out are expected to return soon.
Senior forward and co-captain Elise Mayfield, who is tied with sophomore Sophie Stemmler for the team lead in goals with five, has been out since April 10 but should be back next week. Another senior co-captain, top defender Lindsey Garland, hasn’t played this year because of a hip injury and could return in two weeks. Junior back Ari Eslamian was to come back this week after missing three weeks with a broken nose. Junior forward Jordan Rosvall’s return is expected at the end of next week.
“The double-edged sword of those injuries is the other players are improving and taking advantage of their opportunities,” Hutchison said. “When the other players do come back, let them enhance us, not just save us. It’s been trial and error and stressful on some of the girls. Olivia and Sara (Wieberg) have been on minute restrictions because of nagging injuries.”
Fox is in the Suburban Conference Red pool and will compete in Class 4 District 1 at Nerinx Hall next month. Windsor competes in the Jefferson County Activities Association and is in Class 2 District 1 at conference rival De Soto. The Owls have been in Class 2 only once before (2022). They’re at Hillsboro (3-6-1) for a JCAA game today (April 24).
The grind of the season doesn’t stop for the Warriors, who played at Rockwood Summit (7-4) on Monday and at Red pool and C-6 rival Seckman (4-6) on Tuesday, both after the Leader deadline. Fox hosts Red pool foes Webster Groves (1-3-1) today and Ladue (6-3) on Saturday.
“We have four (games) again this week, so we have to get used to it,” Niehaus said.