Bombers Defeat Crossroads In Sectional Soccer

Scoring goals was an issue during the regular season for the John Burroughs' girls soccer team. The Bombers scored just 16 goals in 13 games.

But it has been a different story in the post-season. The Bombers have surpassed their scoring in the regular season in just three games. They scored 14 goals in a pair of district games and added six more Tuesday in a 6-1 victory over Crossroads in a Class 1 Sectional contest at the Midwest Soccer Academy.

The win moves John Burroughs to within one game of the final four. The Bombers will host the winner of the St. Elizabeth's-St. Vincent's game in the Class 1 quarterfinals Saturday at a time to be determined. St. Vincent's, which came into the game with a 19-4 record, was a heavy favorite.

"We are the last team at John Burroughs still playing and it is very exciting," Bomber senior Maggie Chapman said. "We had a problem earlier in the season scoring goals and we have been having  shooting drills every practice."

Those drills must be working as John Burroughs scored early and often against the Current.

Sydney O'Neal set the tone with a goal less than a minute into the game.

"In a game like this you always want to score the first goal," Bomber coach Alan Trzecki said. "But to score an early goal like that on our first chance was big. It usually takes us five or six chances to score."

Katherine Koby added the first of her two goals scoring with her left foot from a corner kick by freshman Sarah Botteron and the Bombers led 2-0 at halftime.

The offensive onslaught would continue in the second half as Koby scored three minutes into the half on a harmless looking play.

Botteron set up the fourth goal, again on a perfect corner kick, that was headed in by Zoe Smith.

Claudia Testa broke the scoring ice for the Current with a goal with just over 10 minutes to play.

But the Bombers ended the game just as they started it as O'Neal scored her second goal of the game and Tess Yost added another in the final minutes.

"I was extremely pleased with the way we played today on both sides of the field," Trzecki said. "The defense played very well again and we had good numbers around the ball and it was nice to see us score some goals."

Trzecki hopes that the goals will continue Saturday as the Bombers move on to the quarterfinal round for the first time since they won a state championship in 2003.

"I don't think we have played either St. Elizabeth's or St. Vincent's since I have been playing," Chapman said. "I am sure it will be some tough competition but we will be ready to fight. We would love to be in the final four."

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