KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Liberty girls’ soccer is one win away from a third Missouri Class 4 state championship.
The Blue Jays earned a title shot Friday with a 2-1 semifinal victory against Francis Howell Central at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri.
Liberty grabbed the lead Emma Cronin’s 35th-minute goal, doubled that advantage early in the second half then fended off the Spartans for more than a half-hour.
Madilyn Hamline notched her 29th goal of the season as the Jays’ lead reached 2-0 in the 42nd minute, one of her 11 shots with seven on goal in the game.
Francis Howell Central, which only had nine shots and four on goal as a team, answered with a goal in the 45th minute, but Liberty goalkeeper Ashton Maloney made three saves in pacing the win.
The Jays, who won state titles in 2010 and 2011, will play Nerinx Hall for the 2019 crown at 2 p.m. at Swope Soccer Village.
Nerinx Hall edged Lee’s Summit West 3-2 in the other semifinal Friday despite goals from Taylor Reid and Megan Barr.
The Titans will play Francis Howell Central in the Class 4 third-place game at 10 a.m.
Kearney will play n the Missouri Class 3 third-place game after a 3-2 loss Friday evening against St. Dominic.
The Bulldogs led 1-0 at halftime on the strength of Caroline Kelly’s 37th goal of the season, but the Crusaders’ attack came to life with three second-half goals.
Caysi Brown netted her 21st goal of the season in the second half for Kearney, which plays Union at noon at Swope Soccer Village.
