Eagles’ eight-game winning streak comes to end in 4-0 loss to Jaguars

4/25/2025

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News

The Grain Valley girls soccer team was red hot.

It came into Thursday’s matchup with Blue Springs South on an eight-game winning streak and coming in had at least one goal in every game.

That changed against a Jaguar squad that is ranked No. 3 in Class 4 according to the Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association.

South’s defense made it difficult for Grain Valley to get any clean looks inside the 18-yard box. Most of their shot attempts came from 25-plus yards out and the Eagles couldn’t find the back of the net in a 4-0 loss at South.

Grain Valley’s best shot attempts came from senior forward Ally Gilbert from just outside of the penalty box. Her first one went just wide of the net in the 35th minute and the other was a slow roller that was easily saved by South goalkeeper Des Stone.

A lot of attempts from junior Radleigh Childers, who is the Eagles’ top goal scorer, came from about 25 to 30 yards away from the net. Her final attempt late in the game from the right wing was partially blocked by junior Lailah Smith and collected by Stone.

She also had a shot from the left wing that just went wide right of the goal midway through the first half.

“Offensively, we were settling for far shots,” Grain Valley head coach Brett Lewis said. “I feel like our girls could have combined a little bit better.”

Lewis added defensive mistakes led to some of the goals South made.

Jaguar senior Lilly Gibler got the scoring going as she received a cross from Alyssa Guadagnano and she floated a shot from the left corner of the penalty box and inside the far post for a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute.

With 8 minutes and 52 seconds left in the first half, a direct free kick from junior Mary Hoffman was headed toward the Eagles’ goal, and sophomore Kenley Hooks raced toward the net and blasted in a header to push South’s led to 2-0.

In the 36th minute, South continued its strong attack when sophomore Lexi Edwards sent a long through ball to Guadagnano, who slipped a shot inside the left post and past the diving Alayna Maybell to put her team up by three scores.

Junior Haley Cramer completed the scoring for South received a cross from a teammate and nailed a perfectly placed shot inside the left post in the 49th minute.

“We just need to clean up some things,” Lewis said. “I thought a lot of the goals we gave up were off our mistakes. They capitalized. (South) is very athletic and they will just press you. It’s a credit to them.”

Despite the loss, there were some bright spots to take away from the game for Lewis.

“I was proud of our effort,” Lewis said. “I thought Mia Cole played really well in the middle. She defended Haley (Cramer) really well. She held her own.”