Large Schools Girl Soccer Coach of the Year Jeff Hayes of Alton
Pete Hayes, phayes@thetelegraph.com Published 7:00 am CDT, Tuesday, July 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Alton girls soccer coach Jeff Hayes gives halftime instructions to his team during a 3-0 Southwestern Conference victory over Edwardsville on May 1 at AHS. Hayes is the Telegraph Large Schools Girl Soccer Coach of the Year. Photo: 

Pete Hayes | The Telegraph

Photo:
Pete Hayes | The Telegraph

Alton girls soccer coach Jeff Hayes gives halftime instructions to his team during a 3-0 Southwestern Conference victory over Edwardsville on May 1 at AHS. Hayes is the Telegraph Large Schools Girl Soccer Coach of the Year.
GODFREY — While books should be judged on more than their cover, so should athletic teams’ success be determined on more than a won-lost record.

Just as Alton High girls soccer coach Jeff Hayes, The Telegraph Large-Schools Coach of the Year. His Redbirds’ record may not have been as sparkly as others and even short of last season’s mark, but the 2018 campaign could well go down as one of the best in program history, at least in recent years.

Alton, which finished 10-7-2, came within an eyelash of winning its first Southwestern Conference soccer championship. The Redbirds continued to make inroads that included improvements and results that would have been considered impossible a few seasons ago.

“This was a great group of girls to coach,” Hayes said. “We had talent going into the season and we saw even more emerge during the season. Of course, I thought we could have played longer in the playoffs, but you’re never ready to see a season end.”

That end came in a 1-0 loss to host Granite City in the semifinals of the regional at Gene Baker Field. And although the result brought Redbirds’ season to an abrupt halt, Hayes said there were plenty of positives achieved.

“The season was a grind, but there wasn’t a single game in which we played bad,” he said. “We got a lot of leadership from our seniors and they’ll be hard to replace.”

Just winning an SWC game has been challenging in recent seasons, but Hayes’s Redbirds came close to winning the league title in 2018. That would have been the program’s first SWC crown.

A 1-1 tie with Belleville West in the regular season finale prevented Alton from laying claim to that elusive conference crown and handed it to Belleville East.

After grabbing a 1-0 lead on a goal by Alaina Nasello, West rallied to tie the game, sending it to sudden-death overtime. Thanks to a late save penalty kick save by freshman goalie Addison Miller, the score remained 1-1. There were no penalty kicks and the game ended tied.

SWC standings are determined on a points basis with three points for a win and one point for a tie. East won the SWC championship with 11 points and Alton was second with 10 points. A victory would have meant the Redbirds’ first SWC crown.

“It wasn’t that many years ago that just getting a win in the conference was a preseason goal for us,” Hayes said. “I’m proud of the way our girls fought through things. Getting second in this league is no small thing.”

East, which lost to Collinsville was 3-1-2 in the SWC while Alton finished 3-2-1. Edwardsville and Collinsville, which each lost to Alton during the season, also finished 3-2-1 in the league but finished behind the Redbirds because of head-to-head results.

“We finished ahead of some excellent soccer programs,” Hayes said. “That says a lot about our group of girls.”

A 3-0 home victory over Edwardsville May 1 put them in position for their run at the SWC crown, but a 4-3 tough-luck loss at Granite City made the season finale at West a must-win game.

Hayes, who is 33-19-7 in three seasons at Alton, can bring out the best in his players, according to senior captain and two-time Player of the Year Brianna Hatfield.

“Coach Hayes’s thought process is definitely one of his strengths that helps him gain most of his success,” Hatfield said. “Jeff and I have both seen the ups and downs of Alton High soccer and have been through a lot together.

“He’s helped me changed the way I view things, how I react, and pushed me everyday to be not only a better player but more importantly a better person.”

Large-Schools Girl Soccer Player of the Year Brianna Hatfield of Alton

Pete Hayes, phayes@thetelegraph.com

 Published 7:07 am CDT, Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Photo:

Billy Hurst | For The Telegraph

IMAGE 1 OF 3

Alton senior Brianna Hatfield won All-State honors in 2018 for the second consecutive season and is The Telegraph Large-Schools Girls Soccer Player of the Year. She will play this fall at Florida Gulf Coast

... more

GODFREY – Brianna Hatfield can look back on her senior season at Alton High and contemplate a job well done.

That is, she could if she had the time.

But for Hatfield, who repeats as Telegraph Large School Girl Soccer Player of the Year, is too busy taking her next steps that include playing for the Fire and Ice Soccer Club, as well as the start of a collegiate career at Florida Golf Coast University.

“The summer was a great experience and prepared me so much for college,” said Hatfield of her summer with FISC,which plays in the Women’s Premier Soccer League. “I played with and against girls that were ages 20 to 30, and I’ve never had a bigger competitive atmosphere.

‘We went undefeated all season until we made it to regionals where we lost our second game to the Chicago Red Stars reserve team (1-0). They scored in the last 30 seconds and we were devastated.

“Later that night we were notified that we had gotten a second chance to go to nationals because another team didn’t have enough players to make it. We were all thrilled and headed to Oklahoma. We played the Seattle Sounders, but lost 1-0. I’m very proud of the team’s success.”

Hatfield scored 11 goals and added seven assists as a senior and finished her four-year AHS career with 54 goals and 21 assists. As a junior, she scored 20 goals and added three assists. She garnered Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-State honors as a senior and as a junior.

As a senior at AHS this past spring, Hatfield helped lead the Redbirds to a 10-7-2 record. And while the mark may not appear to be as shiny as some, the course of the season saw Alton travel territory uncharted for many seasons, including a shot at winning the league crown heading into the last games.

“We were ready and fired up,” Hatfield said. “We had a very hard schedule this past season and I feel as if we dominated every game. Being a captain, you notice a lot of things and this year really made me realize how much fun the game really was and how lucky I was to be able to play with all my best friends before heading to Florida.

“We ended my last season with 10 wins. I was very proud of my entire team, and I wasn’t able to look at one player standing next to me and say that they never worked their butt off every year I’d been playing with them and I think that’s amazing.”

While blessed with natural talent from a young age, Hatfield said she wasn’t ready for the switch from club to high school soccer when she was a freshman.

“My freshman year coming into high school I was not prepared for the level to change and I had to readjust the way I reacted and even played in a sense,” Hatfield said. “That year was very difficult considering we won four games and lost every other one. That only made me grow as a player, motivating me to do better the next year and the next year and the next year.”

Alton posted 12 wins each of the next two seasons. While there were fewer wins last spring, the came within an eyelash of winning their first Southwestern Conference soccer championship. The Redbirds continued to make inroads that included improvements and results that would have been considered impossible a few seasons ago.

The Redbirds were 3-2-1 in the SWC and finished second, a high-water mark for them in league play. Alton was within reach of the conference in their final regular-season game at Belleville West, which ended in a 1-1 tie.

With the Alton-West tie, Belleville East claimed the SWC championship with 11 points and Alton was second with 10 points. A victory would have meant the Redbirds’ first SWC crown; the tie meant second place.

Hatfield, who reported to FGCU last week for preseason indoctrination, has played for coaches with varying styles through her career. And she said the body or work by those club and high school coaches helped shape her.

Among the coaches she had were AHS coach Jeff Hayes, current Civic Memorial girls coach Eric Zyung, Laura Ridolfi (with Scott Gallagher SC as well as Alton High), Kelsey Dingus and Shawn Hewitt (SGSC) and Fire and Ice coach Lindsey Kennedy Eversmeyer, a former Alton High All-Stater.

“All of the coaches I’ve had over the past several years have all made a huge impact in my life and soccer career,” she said. “Each and every one of them motivated me in a specific way and had different ways to me in the areas where they saw I needed improvement.”

And now comes a new challenge at NCAA Division I FGCU.

“I feel pressure coming in as a freshman,” Hatfield said. “From the fitness test, to preseason, to fighting for a spot on the team, I feel a little pressure. I hope being a freshman, I have the chance to make an impact and compete in a great conference.”

Alton’s Hatfield repeats as All-Stater

Pete Hayes, phayes@thetelegraph.com

Published 8:41 pm, Thursday, May 24, 2018

Alton’s Brianna Hatfield (11) repeated as an Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-State selection in voting that was announced Thursday. She is shown in action against Collinsville earlier this season.

Alton High’s Brianna Hatfield repeated as an All-State selection in voting conducted earlier this month by Section 12 coaches of the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association.

Hatfield, a Florida Gulf Coast University recruit, finished her prep career with 54 goals. This season, she scored 11 goals and added seven assists to help the Redbirds to a 10-7-2 record and a second-place finish in the Southwestern Conference.

A pair of Belleville West players, goalie Bailey Redden and Belleville West’s Taylor Mathenia, were also named to the 61-player All-State team, as was Grace Bauer of Belleville East.

Five Telegraph-area players were named to the All-Sectional team and six were voted All-Sectional Honorable Mention.

Seniors Emma Lucas of Roxana and Morgan Wilson of Civic Memorial headlined the Section 12 All-Sectional team.

Lucas, a Lewis and Clark recruit, scored 37 goals and had 16 assists. Wilson, who’s headed to McKendree, scored 42 goals and had 12 assists.

Other area on the 30-player All-Sectional team include Calista Cox of Alton, as well as Sarah Kraus and Jocelyn Wagner of Edwardsville.

The rest of the All-Section 12 team included Marion’s Marissa Basi and Blake Clark; Triad’s Sydney Beach and Jodi Ellis; Columbia’s Sophia Bondaldi; East’s Annie Brown; Wesclin’s Sidney Christopher; Granite City’s Emma Dutko; Althoff’s Jessica Hoffman, Julia O’Neil and Madison Eghigan; Rylee Iorio of Columbia, West’s Addison Hanusek; Viktoria Johnson of Granite City; Justine Knapp of Mascoutah; Belleville East’s Olivia Lee; Courtney Marten and Jaylyn Richardson of Collinsville; Taylor Parks of Columbia; Mater Dei’s Faith Rackers; Waterloo’s Sydney Stephens and West’s Courtney Vollmer.

The All-Sectional Honorable Mention list included area players Lynde Gibbs of Carlinville, Alton’s Sydney Schmidt, CM’s Cassie Hall, Marquette Catholic’s Madalyn Smith, EA-WR’s Kara Crutchley and Edwardsville’s Hannah Biliecke.

The rest of the All-Sectional Honorable Mention list included Bailey Bosler and Sydney Luedeman of Waterloo, Bailey Busman of Mascoutah, Tori Calvert of Wesclin, Ashlen Deluca of Highland, Father McGivney High’s Macy Hoppes, Carbondale’s Claire Kippenbrock, O’Fallon’s Aubrey Mister, Gibault’s Abbey Phelps, Granite City’s Anna Stearns and Breese Central’s Madison Toennies.

Granite City eliminates Alton, 1-0

Warriors will meet Edwardsville for title

Matthew Kamp, matthew.kamp@hearst.il.com

Published 10:03 pm, Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Photo:

Matthew Kamp / Hearst Newspapers

IMAGE 1 OF 3

Alton’s Maggie Evans (left) and Granite City’s Anna Stearns compete for the ball during a semifinal match at the Granite City Class 3A Regional. The Warriors defeated the Redbirds 1-0 and will play

... more

GRANITE CITY — Granite City’s first shot to find the back of the net was waved off after a 10-minute discussion between officials and both coaches.

There was no debating the second.

Abby Reeves scored on a header off a corner kick in the 70th minute to send the Warriors to a 1-0 victory over the Alton Redbirds in a Class 3A Granite City Regional semifinal.

“I’m happy the girls didn’t give up and we were able to create a little bit of pressure,” Alton coach Jeff Hayes said. “Granite City controlled the midfield and had a little more in their step. They carried the momentum the whole way through.”

Fourth-seeded Granite City improves to 13-5-3 with its fifth win in six games. The Warriors will face the top-seeded Edwardsville Tigers at 6 p.m. Friday in the regional championship game. It is a rematch from the 2016 regional title game the Warriors won 2-1 in penalty kicks. Alton ends its season at 10-7-2.

Reeves was responsible for ending Alton’s season and it came at the end of a 10-minute stretch in the game that included a disallowed goal and 30-minute lightning delay.

In the 70th minute, Analise Simpson took the team’s sixth corner kick of the game and fifth of the half and served a ball into the middle of the box.

Reeves was able to get a head on it, and the ball caromed off the inside of the near post before crossing the goal line for the 1-0 lead. It was Reeves’ third goal of the season.

“I told the girls that we need to get the (disallowed goal) out of our minds. I understood and I think they understood and got their minds off of it. They were pretty jovial and ready to play. They got a nice head ball from Abby Reeves to win the game,” Granite City coach Ken Prazma said.

Reeves’ goal came six minutes after Maya Ware’s goal on a free kick was waved off because Alton didn’t have enough players on the field.

The Redbirds had a sub waiting on the sideline to be called into the game after a yellow card but play started without her. Ware hit a liner inside the far post for an apparent 1-0 lead. Hayes pleaded his case and won out.

“The ref is supposed to beckon the player on to the field and it never happened,” Hayes said.

Prazma said the call was unfortunate but part of the game.

“His girl was standing at the line and they didn’t acknowledge it. I got it. When they make a call, I either support the call and stay in or yell and get thrown out,” Prazma said.

As officials discussed the call, lightning was detected in the area.

It led to a 30-minute break with Alton trying to regroup. The Warriors were controlling play at the time of the stoppage.

“I thought we caught a break and the game would turn in our favor, but to Granite’s credit they were on a roll at that point. They didn’t give up,” Hayes said.

Granite City, though, continued to control momentum.

Before the Warriors started to control play in the second half, the Redbirds did have their chances. They just couldn’t find a way to get a shot past Viktoria Johnson.

Alaina Nasello was stopped on her left-footed shot from inside the 18-yard box in the 44th minute. Katie Kercher set up the play with a through ball that sneaked past the Granite City defense.

In the 46th, Kercher couldn’t poke a ball through after a scramble in front of the goal that ended with Johnson falling on top of the loose ball. The Warriors took control from there.

“About 10 minutes into the second half, we were back on our heals for the entire time. I think the credit goes to them for the way they were playing,” Hayes said.

Alton outshot Granite City 16-14, but the Warriors had a 6-0 edge in corner kicks. It was Granite City’s 11th shutout of the season.

Tuesday’s loss meant the end of the prep careers for the Alton seniors, including Brianna Hatfield. She ends her career at Alton with 54 goals.

“It’s been a grind of a season,” Hayes said. “I’ve been proud of their effort and I don’t think there’s been a game where we’ve played bad. We’ve had a lot of senior leadership and we are going to miss that next year for sure.”

Granite City eliminates Alton, 1-0

Warriors will meet Edwardsville for title

Matthew Kamp, matthew.kamp@hearst.il.com

Published 10:03 pm, Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Photo:

Matthew Kamp / Hearst Newspapers

IMAGE 1 OF 3

Alton’s Maggie Evans (left) and Granite City’s Anna Stearns compete for the ball during a semifinal match at the Granite City Class 3A Regional. The Warriors defeated the Redbirds 1-0 and will play

... more

GRANITE CITY — Granite City’s first shot to find the back of the net was waved off after a 10-minute discussion between officials and both coaches.

There was no debating the second.

Abby Reeves scored on a header off a corner kick in the 70th minute to send the Warriors to a 1-0 victory over the Alton Redbirds in a Class 3A Granite City Regional semifinal.

“I’m happy the girls didn’t give up and we were able to create a little bit of pressure,” Alton coach Jeff Hayes said. “Granite City controlled the midfield and had a little more in their step. They carried the momentum the whole way through.”

Fourth-seeded Granite City improves to 13-5-3 with its fifth win in six games. The Warriors will face the top-seeded Edwardsville Tigers at 6 p.m. Friday in the regional championship game. It is a rematch from the 2016 regional title game the Warriors won 2-1 in penalty kicks. Alton ends its season at 10-7-2.

Reeves was responsible for ending Alton’s season and it came at the end of a 10-minute stretch in the game that included a disallowed goal and 30-minute lightning delay.

In the 70th minute, Analise Simpson took the team’s sixth corner kick of the game and fifth of the half and served a ball into the middle of the box.

Reeves was able to get a head on it, and the ball caromed off the inside of the near post before crossing the goal line for the 1-0 lead. It was Reeves’ third goal of the season.

“I told the girls that we need to get the (disallowed goal) out of our minds. I understood and I think they understood and got their minds off of it. They were pretty jovial and ready to play. They got a nice head ball from Abby Reeves to win the game,” Granite City coach Ken Prazma said.

Reeves’ goal came six minutes after Maya Ware’s goal on a free kick was waved off because Alton didn’t have enough players on the field.

The Redbirds had a sub waiting on the sideline to be called into the game after a yellow card but play started without her. Ware hit a liner inside the far post for an apparent 1-0 lead. Hayes pleaded his case and won out.

“The ref is supposed to beckon the player on to the field and it never happened,” Hayes said.

Prazma said the call was unfortunate but part of the game.

“His girl was standing at the line and they didn’t acknowledge it. I got it. When they make a call, I either support the call and stay in or yell and get thrown out,” Prazma said.

As officials discussed the call, lightning was detected in the area.

It led to a 30-minute break with Alton trying to regroup. The Warriors were controlling play at the time of the stoppage.

“I thought we caught a break and the game would turn in our favor, but to Granite’s credit they were on a roll at that point. They didn’t give up,” Hayes said.

Granite City, though, continued to control momentum.

Before the Warriors started to control play in the second half, the Redbirds did have their chances. They just couldn’t find a way to get a shot past Viktoria Johnson.

Alaina Nasello was stopped on her left-footed shot from inside the 18-yard box in the 44th minute. Katie Kercher set up the play with a through ball that sneaked past the Granite City defense.

In the 46th, Kercher couldn’t poke a ball through after a scramble in front of the goal that ended with Johnson falling on top of the loose ball. The Warriors took control from there.

“About 10 minutes into the second half, we were back on our heals for the entire time. I think the credit goes to them for the way they were playing,” Hayes said.

Alton outshot Granite City 16-14, but the Warriors had a 6-0 edge in corner kicks. It was Granite City’s 11th shutout of the season.

Tuesday’s loss meant the end of the prep careers for the Alton seniors, including Brianna Hatfield. She ends her career at Alton with 54 goals.

“It’s been a grind of a season,” Hayes said. “I’ve been proud of their effort and I don’t think there’s been a game where we’ve played bad. We’ve had a lot of senior leadership and we are going to miss that next year for sure.”

Granite City eliminates Alton, 1-0

Warriors will meet Edwardsville for title

Matthew Kamp, matthew.kamp@hearst.il.com

Published 10:03 pm, Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Photo:

Matthew Kamp / Hearst Newspapers

IMAGE 1 OF 3

Alton’s Maggie Evans (left) and Granite City’s Anna Stearns compete for the ball during a semifinal match at the Granite City Class 3A Regional. The Warriors defeated the Redbirds 1-0 and will play

... more

GRANITE CITY — Granite City’s first shot to find the back of the net was waved off after a 10-minute discussion between officials and both coaches.

There was no debating the second.

Abby Reeves scored on a header off a corner kick in the 70th minute to send the Warriors to a 1-0 victory over the Alton Redbirds in a Class 3A Granite City Regional semifinal.

“I’m happy the girls didn’t give up and we were able to create a little bit of pressure,” Alton coach Jeff Hayes said. “Granite City controlled the midfield and had a little more in their step. They carried the momentum the whole way through.”

Fourth-seeded Granite City improves to 13-5-3 with its fifth win in six games. The Warriors will face the top-seeded Edwardsville Tigers at 6 p.m. Friday in the regional championship game. It is a rematch from the 2016 regional title game the Warriors won 2-1 in penalty kicks. Alton ends its season at 10-7-2.

Reeves was responsible for ending Alton’s season and it came at the end of a 10-minute stretch in the game that included a disallowed goal and 30-minute lightning delay.

In the 70th minute, Analise Simpson took the team’s sixth corner kick of the game and fifth of the half and served a ball into the middle of the box.

Reeves was able to get a head on it, and the ball caromed off the inside of the near post before crossing the goal line for the 1-0 lead. It was Reeves’ third goal of the season.

“I told the girls that we need to get the (disallowed goal) out of our minds. I understood and I think they understood and got their minds off of it. They were pretty jovial and ready to play. They got a nice head ball from Abby Reeves to win the game,” Granite City coach Ken Prazma said.

Reeves’ goal came six minutes after Maya Ware’s goal on a free kick was waved off because Alton didn’t have enough players on the field.

The Redbirds had a sub waiting on the sideline to be called into the game after a yellow card but play started without her. Ware hit a liner inside the far post for an apparent 1-0 lead. Hayes pleaded his case and won out.

“The ref is supposed to beckon the player on to the field and it never happened,” Hayes said.

Prazma said the call was unfortunate but part of the game.

“His girl was standing at the line and they didn’t acknowledge it. I got it. When they make a call, I either support the call and stay in or yell and get thrown out,” Prazma said.

As officials discussed the call, lightning was detected in the area.

It led to a 30-minute break with Alton trying to regroup. The Warriors were controlling play at the time of the stoppage.

“I thought we caught a break and the game would turn in our favor, but to Granite’s credit they were on a roll at that point. They didn’t give up,” Hayes said.

Granite City, though, continued to control momentum.

Before the Warriors started to control play in the second half, the Redbirds did have their chances. They just couldn’t find a way to get a shot past Viktoria Johnson.

Alaina Nasello was stopped on her left-footed shot from inside the 18-yard box in the 44th minute. Katie Kercher set up the play with a through ball that sneaked past the Granite City defense.

In the 46th, Kercher couldn’t poke a ball through after a scramble in front of the goal that ended with Johnson falling on top of the loose ball. The Warriors took control from there.

“About 10 minutes into the second half, we were back on our heals for the entire time. I think the credit goes to them for the way they were playing,” Hayes said.

Alton outshot Granite City 16-14, but the Warriors had a 6-0 edge in corner kicks. It was Granite City’s 11th shutout of the season.

Tuesday’s loss meant the end of the prep careers for the Alton seniors, including Brianna Hatfield. She ends her career at Alton with 54 goals.

“It’s been a grind of a season,” Hayes said. “I’ve been proud of their effort and I don’t think there’s been a game where we’ve played bad. We’ve had a lot of senior leadership and we are going to miss that next year for sure.”

Granite City eliminates Alton, 1-0

Warriors will meet Edwardsville for title

Matthew Kamp, matthew.kamp@hearst.il.com

Published 10:03 pm, Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Photo:

Matthew Kamp / Hearst Newspapers

IMAGE 1 OF 3

Alton’s Maggie Evans (left) and Granite City’s Anna Stearns compete for the ball during a semifinal match at the Granite City Class 3A Regional. The Warriors defeated the Redbirds 1-0 and will play

... more

GRANITE CITY — Granite City’s first shot to find the back of the net was waved off after a 10-minute discussion between officials and both coaches.

There was no debating the second.

Abby Reeves scored on a header off a corner kick in the 70th minute to send the Warriors to a 1-0 victory over the Alton Redbirds in a Class 3A Granite City Regional semifinal.

“I’m happy the girls didn’t give up and we were able to create a little bit of pressure,” Alton coach Jeff Hayes said. “Granite City controlled the midfield and had a little more in their step. They carried the momentum the whole way through.”

Fourth-seeded Granite City improves to 13-5-3 with its fifth win in six games. The Warriors will face the top-seeded Edwardsville Tigers at 6 p.m. Friday in the regional championship game. It is a rematch from the 2016 regional title game the Warriors won 2-1 in penalty kicks. Alton ends its season at 10-7-2.

Reeves was responsible for ending Alton’s season and it came at the end of a 10-minute stretch in the game that included a disallowed goal and 30-minute lightning delay.

In the 70th minute, Analise Simpson took the team’s sixth corner kick of the game and fifth of the half and served a ball into the middle of the box.

Reeves was able to get a head on it, and the ball caromed off the inside of the near post before crossing the goal line for the 1-0 lead. It was Reeves’ third goal of the season.

“I told the girls that we need to get the (disallowed goal) out of our minds. I understood and I think they understood and got their minds off of it. They were pretty jovial and ready to play. They got a nice head ball from Abby Reeves to win the game,” Granite City coach Ken Prazma said.

Reeves’ goal came six minutes after Maya Ware’s goal on a free kick was waved off because Alton didn’t have enough players on the field.

The Redbirds had a sub waiting on the sideline to be called into the game after a yellow card but play started without her. Ware hit a liner inside the far post for an apparent 1-0 lead. Hayes pleaded his case and won out.

“The ref is supposed to beckon the player on to the field and it never happened,” Hayes said.

Prazma said the call was unfortunate but part of the game.

“His girl was standing at the line and they didn’t acknowledge it. I got it. When they make a call, I either support the call and stay in or yell and get thrown out,” Prazma said.

As officials discussed the call, lightning was detected in the area.

It led to a 30-minute break with Alton trying to regroup. The Warriors were controlling play at the time of the stoppage.

“I thought we caught a break and the game would turn in our favor, but to Granite’s credit they were on a roll at that point. They didn’t give up,” Hayes said.

Granite City, though, continued to control momentum.

Before the Warriors started to control play in the second half, the Redbirds did have their chances. They just couldn’t find a way to get a shot past Viktoria Johnson.

Alaina Nasello was stopped on her left-footed shot from inside the 18-yard box in the 44th minute. Katie Kercher set up the play with a through ball that sneaked past the Granite City defense.

In the 46th, Kercher couldn’t poke a ball through after a scramble in front of the goal that ended with Johnson falling on top of the loose ball. The Warriors took control from there.

“About 10 minutes into the second half, we were back on our heals for the entire time. I think the credit goes to them for the way they were playing,” Hayes said.

Alton outshot Granite City 16-14, but the Warriors had a 6-0 edge in corner kicks. It was Granite City’s 11th shutout of the season.

Tuesday’s loss meant the end of the prep careers for the Alton seniors, including Brianna Hatfield. She ends her career at Alton with 54 goals.

“It’s been a grind of a season,” Hayes said. “I’ve been proud of their effort and I don’t think there’s been a game where we’ve played bad. We’ve had a lot of senior leadership and we are going to miss that next year for sure.”

GIRLS PREP SOCCER: Alton, West tie 1-1 in SWC OT thriller

Upstart AHS finishessecond in SWC race

Pete Hayes, phayes@thetelegraph.com

Published 10:23 pm, Thursday, May 10, 2018

BELLEVILLE — The Alton Redbirds girls soccer team was, oh, so close to its first Southwestern Conference championship.

A first-half goal by Alaina Nasello put the Redbirds in the driver’s seat, but Belleville West rallied to tie the game, sending it to sudden-death overtime. Thanks to a late save penalty kick save by freshman goalie Addison Miller, the score remained 1-1 Thursday night at Belleville West. There were no penalty kicks.

With the tie, Belleville East won the SWC championship with 11 points and Alton was second with 10 points. A victory would have meant the Redbirds’ first SWC crown.

“It wasn’t that many years ago that just getting a win in the conference was a preseason goal for us,” Alton coach Jeff Hayes said. “I’m proud of the way our girls fought through things. Getting second in this league is no small thing.”

East, which lost to Collinsville Thursday night, finished 3-1-2 in the SWC, while Alton finished 3-2-1. Edwardsville and Collinsville, which each to Alton during the season, also finished 3-2-1 in the league but are behind the Redbirds because of head-to-head results.

SWC standings are determined on a points basis with three points for a win and one point for a tie.

“We finished ahead of some excellent soccer programs,” Hayes said. “That says a lot about our group of girls.”

Alton, which finished the regular season 10-6-2 overall, had early pressure on the Maroons and it paid off. In the fifth minute, Brianna Hatfield sent a crossing pass from the left side and Nasello was in front of West goalie Bailey Redden to head it into the goal from about six yards.

Alton had more first-half pressure and came close to a 2-0 lead when a Nasello shot was just wide after she received a pass from Katie Kercher in the 33rd minute.

The second half was a different story. West assumed control or possession time, but managed just one goal.

It came when SEMO recruit Taylor Mathenia took the ball down left wing, then crossed it on the ground about 10 yards from the end line to Sydney Valerius, who made a near-post run and scored inside the left post in the 56th minute to make it 1-1.

That was still the score when West was awarded a penalty kick with two minutes remaining in the second overtime. But Mathenia’s PK was stopped by Miller, who dived to her right to make the save.

“We were so close to winning this conference,” Hayes said, “and that’s something we can be proud of. But we have the regional ahead of us and our girls still think they have something left to prove, if only to themselves.”

GIRLS PREP SOCCER: Alton, West tie 1-1 in SWC OT thriller

Upstart AHS finishessecond in SWC race

Pete Hayes, phayes@thetelegraph.com

Published 10:23 pm, Thursday, May 10, 2018

BELLEVILLE — The Alton Redbirds girls soccer team was, oh, so close to its first Southwestern Conference championship.

A first-half goal by Alaina Nasello put the Redbirds in the driver’s seat, but Belleville West rallied to tie the game, sending it to sudden-death overtime. Thanks to a late save penalty kick save by freshman goalie Addison Miller, the score remained 1-1 Thursday night at Belleville West. There were no penalty kicks.

With the tie, Belleville East won the SWC championship with 11 points and Alton was second with 10 points. A victory would have meant the Redbirds’ first SWC crown.

“It wasn’t that many years ago that just getting a win in the conference was a preseason goal for us,” Alton coach Jeff Hayes said. “I’m proud of the way our girls fought through things. Getting second in this league is no small thing.”

East, which lost to Collinsville Thursday night, finished 3-1-2 in the SWC, while Alton finished 3-2-1. Edwardsville and Collinsville, which each to Alton during the season, also finished 3-2-1 in the league but are behind the Redbirds because of head-to-head results.

SWC standings are determined on a points basis with three points for a win and one point for a tie.

“We finished ahead of some excellent soccer programs,” Hayes said. “That says a lot about our group of girls.”

Alton, which finished the regular season 10-6-2 overall, had early pressure on the Maroons and it paid off. In the fifth minute, Brianna Hatfield sent a crossing pass from the left side and Nasello was in front of West goalie Bailey Redden to head it into the goal from about six yards.

Alton had more first-half pressure and came close to a 2-0 lead when a Nasello shot was just wide after she received a pass from Katie Kercher in the 33rd minute.

The second half was a different story. West assumed control or possession time, but managed just one goal.

It came when SEMO recruit Taylor Mathenia took the ball down left wing, then crossed it on the ground about 10 yards from the end line to Sydney Valerius, who made a near-post run and scored inside the left post in the 56th minute to make it 1-1.

That was still the score when West was awarded a penalty kick with two minutes remaining in the second overtime. But Mathenia’s PK was stopped by Miller, who dived to her right to make the save.

“We were so close to winning this conference,” Hayes said, “and that’s something we can be proud of. But we have the regional ahead of us and our girls still think they have something left to prove, if only to themselves.”

GIRLS PREP SOCCER: Alton, West tie 1-1 in SWC OT thriller

Upstart AHS finishessecond in SWC race

Pete Hayes, phayes@thetelegraph.com

Published 10:23 pm, Thursday, May 10, 2018

BELLEVILLE — The Alton Redbirds girls soccer team was, oh, so close to its first Southwestern Conference championship.

A first-half goal by Alaina Nasello put the Redbirds in the driver’s seat, but Belleville West rallied to tie the game, sending it to sudden-death overtime. Thanks to a late save penalty kick save by freshman goalie Addison Miller, the score remained 1-1 Thursday night at Belleville West. There were no penalty kicks.

With the tie, Belleville East won the SWC championship with 11 points and Alton was second with 10 points. A victory would have meant the Redbirds’ first SWC crown.

“It wasn’t that many years ago that just getting a win in the conference was a preseason goal for us,” Alton coach Jeff Hayes said. “I’m proud of the way our girls fought through things. Getting second in this league is no small thing.”

East, which lost to Collinsville Thursday night, finished 3-1-2 in the SWC, while Alton finished 3-2-1. Edwardsville and Collinsville, which each to Alton during the season, also finished 3-2-1 in the league but are behind the Redbirds because of head-to-head results.

SWC standings are determined on a points basis with three points for a win and one point for a tie.

“We finished ahead of some excellent soccer programs,” Hayes said. “That says a lot about our group of girls.”

Alton, which finished the regular season 10-6-2 overall, had early pressure on the Maroons and it paid off. In the fifth minute, Brianna Hatfield sent a crossing pass from the left side and Nasello was in front of West goalie Bailey Redden to head it into the goal from about six yards.

Alton had more first-half pressure and came close to a 2-0 lead when a Nasello shot was just wide after she received a pass from Katie Kercher in the 33rd minute.

The second half was a different story. West assumed control or possession time, but managed just one goal.

It came when SEMO recruit Taylor Mathenia took the ball down left wing, then crossed it on the ground about 10 yards from the end line to Sydney Valerius, who made a near-post run and scored inside the left post in the 56th minute to make it 1-1.

That was still the score when West was awarded a penalty kick with two minutes remaining in the second overtime. But Mathenia’s PK was stopped by Miller, who dived to her right to make the save.

“We were so close to winning this conference,” Hayes said, “and that’s something we can be proud of. But we have the regional ahead of us and our girls still think they have something left to prove, if only to themselves.”

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

IMAGE 1 OF 3

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.”

MONDAY SOCCER ROUNDUP: East edges Alton on late PK; Southwestern wins again

The Telegraph

Published 10:06 pm, Monday, April 9, 2018

A 1-0 loss to Belleville East on a late penalty kick stung the Alton High girls soccer players Monday night. But Redbirds coach Jeff Hayes said that if his team reacts the way he thinks it will, good can come front the Southwestern Conference road defeat.

East’s Grace Bauer converted the penalty kick in the 73rd minute, lifting the Lancers to the victory, despite being out shot by Alton 8-3.

“I know the girls are disappointed to lose this one on a PK when they played so well” Hayes said. “But I can see a lot of good coming from this game. I’m happy with their effort.”

East is 7-2-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

The Redbirds (5-4-1 overall and 1-2 in the SWC) saw their four-game winning streak halted by East.

“We had several solid chances,” Hayes said, “but they were turned away by (East goalie Grace) Tantillo.

“We did well controlling the game for long periods, but we just couldn’t get it past the last defender.

”Plus we limited their looks on goal. Most of their attack came from serving deadballs into the box. Our girls did a good job staying organized on the back line.”

SOCCER ROUNDUP: Triad edges Alton in Metro Cup 1-0; CM falls to Freeburg
Pete Hayes, phayes@thetelegraph.com Published 10:15 pm, Thursday, March 15, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sometimes, becoming good at something means a little disappointment along the way. Just ask the Alton High girls soccer team.

The Redbirds battled defending Class 2A state champion toe-to-toe Thursday night at Edwardsville, but a defensive miscue late in the first half ended up costing them in a 1-0 loss in pool play of the Metro Cup tournament’s Nike Division.

The Knights’s Molly Suess a junior midfielder, scored out of a scramble in front of the Alton goal in the 30th minute off a missed clearance by the Redbirds defense.

“We didn’t clear,” Alton coach Jeff Hayes said. “The ball bounces around a little but then goes directly to (Suess’s) feet. We had the same thing in (Monday’s) loss to Belleville West.”

Monday, West beat Alton 2-0. The Redbirds finish play in Pool VB at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Edwardsville, then will await a crossover game Saturday to be determined.

Despite the loss and an 0-2 record, Hayes said he’s far from unhappy with his team’s play thus far.

“I’m OK with this,” Hayes said. “I told the girls that it we had lost these two games at different points in the season, t wouldn’t seem as significant, but since it’s at the start of the season, sometimes you tend to over-emphasize them.

“I’m happy with the way we’ve played against West and triad. They’re going to be two of the best teams in the st. Louis area this season.”

The Redbirds and Knights each had five shots.

“The offense did a good job of connecting to feet,” he said. “We had larger chunks of possession and looked more confident.”

METRO CUP GIRLS SOCCER: West knocks off Redbirds in Metro Cup opener
West knocks off Alton in season opener
Pete Hayes, phayes@thetelegraph.com Published 10:23 pm, Monday, March 12, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Alton’s Taylor Imming (9) moves the ball against Lily Stedman of Belleville West during Metro Cup tournament action Monday night in Belleville. Alton lost 2-0 Photo: Nathan Woodside | For The Telegraph
Photo:
Nathan Woodside | For The Telegraph

Alton’s Taylor Imming (9) moves the ball against Lily Stedman of Belleville West during Metro Cup tournament action Monday night in Belleville. Alton lost 2-0

BELLEVILLE — On a chilly opening night of the girls prep soccer season, Alton coach Jeff Hayes saw enough of what he was hoping to see. And Belleville West’s Taylor Mathenia got just enough of what she needed - the ball and a bit of space.

The result was a 2-0 West victory over Alton in the first round of play in Pool B of the Metro Cup tournament’s Nike Bracket at Belleville West High School.

Mathenia, a Southeast Missouri recruit, got a through ball from the midfield in the 38th minute and scored the only goal the Maroons needed. They added a second goal early in the second half.

“Overall, I wasn’t unhappy with the way we played,” Hayes said. “It’s what we wanted - to move up into this bracket at the Metro Cup and play tough teams early.

“Our defense did a good job. West was looking to play the ball in to Mathenia and I thought (Megan) Zini and (Taylor) Imming did a good job on her.”

The Maroons defense, while not shadow marking Alton’s leading scorer from last season, Bri Hatfield, was keeping close tabs on her.

Hatfield, a Florida Gulf Coast recruit, had a pair of scoring chances in each half, but West goalie Bailey Redden (another SEMO recruit) notched the shutout. She made eight saves, including snuffing out a pair of chances by Alaina Nasello.

“We were floating Bri at attacking mid,” Hayes said, “and they kept a close eye on her.”

Last season, Hatfield led Alton in scoring with 20 goals and three assists.

“(Redden) is one of the best goalies in the St. Louis area,” Hayes said. “West’s defense is pretty solid anyway, but add her and it’s even tougher to score.”

The Redbirds’ defense drew positive reviews from Hayes.

“Makayla Cox played solid a holding mid,” he said. “She did a really nice job.”

Mathenia, who scored 17 goals with six assists last season, got her first of 2018 when she outraced the Redbirds defense to that ball out of the midfield.

In the 50th minute,West’s Olivia Alvarez scored out of a scramble in front of the Alton goal after a corner kick to make it 2-0.

The Redbirds’ best scoring chances came early in the first half. They started the half with four consecutive corner kicks and at least three well-placed shots that Redden stopped.

Hayes said that poor pacing by his team hurt.

“We were trying to play too fast, I think,” Hayes said. “Part of that is due to it being our first game.

“The key was not connecting enough passes. Once we get some games under our belt and settle in, we’ll adjust.

“This is what we need - good games against good teams.”

The Redbirds will take on defending Class 2A state champion Triad in their next Cup game, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Edwardsville High. In its final Pool B game on Friday, Alton will play Springfield at 5:30.

GIRLS PREP SOCCER: ‘Easy transition’ for Redbirds this preseason
Pete Hayes, phayes@thetelegraph.com Published 1:02 pm, Friday, March 9, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Alton Redbirds’ girls soccer coach Jeff Hayes and his team will open the season Monday at Belleville West in a pool game of the Metro Cup’s Nike Bracket. Photo: Billy Hurst | For The Telegraph
Photo:
Billy Hurst | For The Telegraph

Alton Redbirds’ girls soccer coach Jeff Hayes and his team will open the season Monday at Belleville West in a pool game of the Metro Cup’s Nike Bracket.

GODFREY — Some preseasons go more smoothly than others. Case in point: The Alton High girls soccer team.

“This preseason has been an easy transition for us,” Redbirds coach Jeff Hayes said.” We’re only missing a few girls from last season. The girls understand my expectations of them so there are no surprises.”

Alton’s trio of Brianna Hatfield, Alaina Nasello and Katie Kercher form the nucleus for Alton, which will begin its season Monday in the Metro Cup Tournament’s Nike Bracket.

Hatfield, a Florida Gulf Coast recruit and a senior, figures to be heavily marked this season. The talented senior scored 20 goals and added three assists in 2017, when the Redbirds went 13-6-2.

Last season’s Telegraph Player of the Year, Hatfield was named to a pair of All-State teams. She was selected by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association and the ChicagolandSoccer.com. She was also a Southwestern Conference first team all-conference selection.

Just as important as her goals, Hatfield drew the attention of opposing teams so often that it affected the way other Alton players were defended.

“Bri is the kind of player who affects the flow of the game in a lot of ways,” Hayes said. “She’s a great leader on and off the field. The other players know she knows what she’s talking about. And the other teams know her talent and they sometimes shake things up on their end because of that.”

Kercher, a senior, scored nine goals and had 10 assists and Nasello, a junior, had four goals and six assists.

“(Hatfield, Nasello and Kercher) are going to draw a lot of attention this year, so our success will be determined by other players stepping up,” Hayes said. “Makayla Cox and Sydney Schmidt had solid seasons last year; Can they stay healthy?

“Taylor Imming and Calista Cox are returning defenders, so we have a couple holes to fill. Nora Steiner and Megan Zini could help us in the back, but they’re also capable of playing in the midfield. There are several other girls who will step up throughout the season as well.”

The Redbirds scare off some old bugaboos. They won three Southwestern Conference games and their 3-3 league mark was good for a fourth-place finish behind champion Collinsvile, which went 6-0- and Edwardsville and Belleville West, which were tied for second at 4-1-1.

The Redbirds outscored the opposition 45-33 last season. Hayes said a better result is needed.

“We need to do a better job defensively this year,” he said. “That’s on me to get the girls organized and confident on the backline with what we will be doing.”

Team smarts went a long way toward last season’s success and Hayes said there plenty of that to around this season.

“Our biggest strength is that we have a very intelligent group of young women,” Hayes said. “They’re coachable and pick up on things quickly. We just need to get on the same page as soon as possible and keep a positive attitude.“

With a large contingent returning, Hayes has set the bar a bit higher. Playing a stronger nonconference schedule is part of that.

“Our schedule is a lot more difficult this year,” he said. “Things won’t always go our way, so it’s important that we measure success by improving and not necessarily wins and losses.

“We moved up in the Metro Cup and open with Belleville West, Triad, and Springfield. Those are three tough games to begin the season. West has had our number the last few years and Triad is a returning (2A) state champ. I’m excited to be playing them early in the season.”

Alton will play in Pool B of the Nike bracket of the Metro Cup next week. The Redbirds will open with a game against the host Maroons at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Belleville West. They’ll play Triad at 7:30 Thursday at Edwardsville and will face Springfield at 5:30 Friday in their final pool game.

The seventh-, fifth- third-place and championship games will be played Saturday.

”This senior class is a talented bunch for all the teams in the metro east,” Hayes said. “Our conference has a lot of parity this year. We certainly have our work cut out for us.“

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Photo by Theo Tate

Alton seniors Megan Zini and Alaina Nasello pose after signing their letters of intent to play soccer for the University of Springfield and Oakland (Mich.) University next year.

For the last three years, Alaina Nasello and Megan Zini have helped the Alton girls soccer team become a successful program.

Next year, they look to turn in strong showings in the college level.

The Alton seniors signed letters of intent on Nov. 14 to play in schools that are 466 miles from each other. Zini will play for the University of Illinois at Springfield, while Nasello will join the Oakland (Mich.) University women's soccer program. The signings took place at the Alton High auditorium.

Oakland is an NCAA Division I school that is located in Rochester Hills, Mich., a suburb north of Detroit. UIS competes in the Division II level.

"It's great for us to sign on the same day, especially since we're friends and we're on the same soccer team," Nasello said. "It's really special for us."

Nasello will be playing for an Oakland program that won four matches this fall. The Golden Grizzlies are coached by Juan Pablo Favero.

"We were playing there for a game and they saw me and they said, 'We saw you play and we liked how you play,'" said Nasello, a midfielder. "I went up and visited the college. It's very pretty. It's such a beautiful campus. Their program is very good, too. I can't wait to go up there and help them out."

Oakland competes in the Horizon League and plays teams such as Cleveland State University, Wisconsin-Green Bay and Youngstown State University.

"Since I was little, I wanted to play on D-1," Nasello said.

Zini said she's thrilled that she will continue her soccer career at her home state.

"It's close to home and I love the university," she said. "It's small and I love my coach and I love a lot of the girls on the team when I went down there. I just felt at home."

Zini will play for a UIS team that won three matches this year after getting nine victories the year before. The Prairie Stars compete in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and are coached by Erin Egolf.

Zini will be reunited with Makayla Cox, a 2018 Alton graduate who played her freshman season at UIS this fall.

"It's very exciting to know that my athletic career is taking me to the next step," Zini said. "It's proving to myself that I can do it and I can be brought up to the next level."

Nasello and Zini have played with the Alton varsity program since they were freshmen. They helped the Redbirds finish with winning seasons in each of the last three years, including an 11-7-1 mark last spring.  Before they joined the program, the Redbirds were coming off a four-win campaign in '15.

Nasello is a two-time all-Southwestern Conference performer with 17 goals and 15 assists. Zini, a defender, earned Most Valuable Player honors in the Nike Division of the Metro Cup in her sophomore year.

"These two girls are going to be key players on this year's team that has the potential to be very successful," said Jeff Hayes, who recently resigned as Alton girls soccer coach, in a statement. "I'll miss watching them play every day. But more so I will miss spending time with them and watching them grow as young women."

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Photo by Theo Tate

Alton senior Megan Zini signs her letter of intent to play soccer for the University of Illinois Springfield while her parents look on.

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Photo by Theo Tate

Alton senior Alaina Nasello signs her letter of intent to play soccer for Oakland (Mich.) University.