By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
FAUCETT - In the spring of 2021, when Mid-Buchanan girls' soccer was holding its first ever practices together, it's likely no one inside the program or outside thought the Dragons could do this in year two.
"I don't know if I would have believed them," sophomore Emily Parrott said, thinking back to those early days. "But, seeing how our team has worked together and built together over the last two years, I would know that we'd be able to do this."
Mid-Buchanan (15-6) has made it a reality. The Dragons scored two goals within six minutes of each other in the first half and slammed the door with a third one in the closing 10 minutes to beat Barstow 3-0 Saturday in Class 1 state quarterfinals in Faucett Saturday.
The win sends the Dragons to the Final Four in Fenton on June 3-4. Again, in just the second year as a program.
"After a little bit of time spent with these girls, they have the heart and the drive," coach Danielle Beers said. "As you spend more time with them, you see the possibilities and the big picture. They would do whatever they need to for each other and it shows."
Mid-Buchanan had the wind at their back in the first half, and were able to apply pressure early. Their sixth shot-on-goal resulted in the matches' first point, as Parrott got a pass from sophomore Liv Moeckli and sent a hard shot from roughly 20 yards out - high into the goal and over the hands of Barstow keeper Izzy Fears.
The Dragons struck again in less than six minutes, as junior Jordan Thornton broke away up the sideline and drew Fears out of the goalie box. That allowed Thornton to sneak a groundball through to put the Dragons up 2-0.
"I just saw (Fears) was coming at me and I knew I had to hit it low," Thornton said, "and I knew I had to hit to the left side. That's what I tried to do and it worked."
Barstow (8-9) had opportunities in the second half, firing off six shots-on-goal in the game's final 40 minutes, but goalie Mallie Lieffring again stood firm, finishing the match with nine total saves. The junior keeper has not allowed a goal in each of the last four matches.
The Dragon defenders also did what they could to disrupt the Knights' rhythm.
"One thing we always talk about is disrupt, disrupt, disrupt," Beers said. "That's kind of been our go-to. If we can do that, that ball is hopefully with us."
Mid-Buchanan put on the finishing touch with 8:14 remaining. Driving into the wind, Thornton once again drew the goalie out of the box and was trying to fight off a few defenders just in front of the goal.
Thornton scooted the ball across the box to her left to a wide open Moeckli, who shoved the ball in with her right foot to give the Dragons a 3-0 lead.
"I knew Liv (Moeckli) would be there," Thornton said. "She's always ready, so I just kind of hit it in her direction and she hit it in the back of the net."
Mid-Buchanan advances to the Class 1 Final Four, where they'll face Whitfield (11-6) in the semifinals on Friday, June 3 at noon at the World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton.
It's a remarkable story for a program that just started a little over a year ago. For a community that never got to enjoy soccer prior to this.
Whatever happens next, Mid-Buchanan girls' soccer has already defied their own expectations by quite a long ways.
"I'm not really surprised, because I knew our team could do it," Thornton said. "But, it's just crazy because we're a second-year program and I feel like no one really expected it, but I just...it's crazy. It's a crazy feeling."
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