May 19, 2015
Helms backs Sikeston's 4-1 district semifinal win over Cape Central
All season long Sikeston's Torrie Helms has been scoring goals at a pace not seen in the program's history. With her team's season on the line Monday, the junior kept adding to the record books
By Brent Shipman - Standard Democrat
sports@standard-democrat.com
CAPE GIRARDEAU -- All season long Sikeston's Torrie Helms has been scoring goals at a pace not seen in the program's history.
On Monday the junior added to her record setting total with a hat trick performance that helped the Lady Bulldogs down Cape Central 4-1 in the Class 3, District 1 semifinals at Cape Central High School.
"We all stepped up and did what needed to do," Helms said. "We improved from the very beginning and I'm very proud of all my girls."
Helms already owned the school record for goals in a single season with 28 to end the regular season. Her three on Monday gives her 31 to go with a team high 12 assists.
For her first two goals of the playoffs she teamed with freshman Mackenzie Yant, who's becoming a favorite partner of Helms. Yant's two assists during Helms' first two goals give her 10 on the year, second best on the team behind only Helms.
"Mackenzie seems to find Torrie at the right place and right time when we need it," Sikeston head coach Gabe Dement said. "When you link up with either one of those girls something positive is likely to happen and sure enough it did."
Yant first found Helms 10 minutes into the contest with Helms taking the pass and sending a shot high into the right side of the net to give her team an early 1-0 advantage.
After battling through brief rain that led to slick conditions the rest of the way, Sikeston struck again with 9:51 left in the half.
Sophomore Morgan Poindexter saved a ball from going out of bounds near the right sideline 10 yards in front of the net. Poindexter sent a hard shot on net that deflected off a Cape Central defender and into the net just feet from the goalkeeper for what goes down as an own-goal.
"Morgan made that happen," Dement said. "I tell my girls put the ball in the danger spot and 'MoPo' put it in the danger spot and sure enough the ball goes in."
Added Cape Central head coach Dan Martin about the goal, "Everybody who has played this game long enough has an own goal. It's just one of those things."
What once felt like a comfortable lead was cut in half with 23 minutes left in the game.
Sikeston was awarded the ball by the left corner flag on their half of the field and sent a shot upfield that the Lady Tigers managed to keep in Sikeston's territory.
After working the ball to the middle of the field, Cape Central senior Abby Shupert took a shot from near the top of the box. The low, ground level kick got past a diving Madeline Witt to cut Sikeston's lead to 2-1.
"That's why I love these girls," Martin said. "They never stop and Abby put that one in and gave us some more life and we kept fighting."
Cape Central had the momentum and Sikeston appeared to be on their heels in the minutes following, but Helms and Yant hooked up once again to regain momentum.
Working the ball up the right side of the field Yant got a pass around a Lady Tiger defender to the left side of the field where Helms was waiting. Helms' shot was low and got past a diving keeper inside the right post to make it 3-1 with 13:14 to play.
"After Shupert cut it back to one goal, 2-1, I could tell we played a little scared for a minute," Dement said. "It took a few minutes to wake back up and play. Luckily within those few minutes Cape didn't put one in. When we went up 3-1 that was the little bit of cushion that we needed."
With the game already in hand, Helms iced the game with 1:16 to play, taking a pass from junior Sydney Henson. The junior's shot was high and directly over the head of Cape Central's keeper, touching her gloves before hitting the back of the net to complete Helms' hat-trick performance.
Cape Central's season ends at 8-15 while Sikeston improves to 14-10.
Sikeston will play fourth-seeded Farmington, who upset top seed Poplar Bluff 3-2 in the other semifinal, today at 6 p.m. at Cape Central High School for the district championship.
Sikeston holds the regular season advantage against Farmington in both meetings.
"We beat them 3-2 and 4-0 with the second win over them at home," Dement said. "I feel like this Farmington team is going to be a little more difficult for us. If we're not ready to battle they'll take it to us. Hopefully we'll come ready to go."
Advertisement
Advertisement