Summit blanks 3-time defending state champ Fort Zumwalt South to reach Class 3 title match

The Summit High senior midfielder woke up Friday morning with a smile.

"There was this feeling that this might be a good day for me," Larocque said.

Her premonition was spot on.

Larocque scored in the 48th minute to lead the Falcons to a 1-0 win over three-time defending state champion Fort Zumwalt South in a Class 3 girls soccer state semifinal at Soccer Park.

Summit (13-9-1) will take on Cor Jesu (20-4) in the title match at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

The resurgent Falcons, who had a losing record as recently as May 7, are in search of their second state crown to go along with a Class 3 title in 2018.

They have Larocque, and a staunch defense led by freshman goalkeeper Kate Lawler, to thank for the championship-match berth.

"Before the game, I was so excited," Larocque said. "I told myself this is my turn — and it was."

Larocque picked a perfect time for her first goal of the season. She had spent much of the campaign saddled by bad luck.

"I hit some goal posts, crossbars, just wide, missing by inches," Larocque said.

Or as senior defender Katie Jundt said, "A lot of bar music."

Larocque took a long pass from freshman Madde Chonech before pouncing on a rebound from five yards out along the right wing. 

"I just got it and slotted it in," Larocque said. "The net was wide open and for a moment I thought to myself that I better not miss it."

Summit does not have a dynamic scorer. They have tallied 27 goals in 23 matches this season with no player scoring more than five.

Larocque epitomizes an opportunistic offense that sports a wide array of offensive weapons.

"We don't have one true goal scorer, it's everybody getting bits and pieces here and there," Jundt said. "Abby works so hard and it was great for her to get a goal that was so important."

The Falcons, making their sixth final four appearance, hunkered down the rest of the way, thanks in large part to Lawler, who recorded eight saves. She halted Zumwalt South snipers Audrey Smith and Ashley Miller from close range in the final 12 minutes.

Summit hangs its hat on a rock-ribbed defense that has not allowed a goal in its last five matches.

Jundt leads the way. Anna Schnieders, Sienna Nicholson and Mary Cunniff added even more strength to the back line Friday.

"The one thing we always do well is defend well," Summit coach Eric Hill said. "The power of defending is what's got us this far."

Summit downed Fort Zumwalt South 2-1 on April 25 and came into this contest with a load of confidence.

Still, the Falcons were expected to have their hands full against South, which carried an 88-12 record over the last three-plus seasons into the contest.

"Honestly this feels straight out of a movie," Lawler said. "Beating a three-time state champ not once, but twice, is amazing. And to do it on a stage like this is something I'll never forget."

Summit closed the regular season on a two-match losing streak with road losses at Oakville and Lindbergh.

Since then, the Falcons have been unbeatable, outscoring their opponents 9-0.

"Making it to the final four re-ignited something in the girls to see just how far we've come," Hill said. "They just want to keep things going."

Fort Zumwalt South (18-6) held a territorial advantage throughout most of the contest.

The Bulldogs, who outshot Summit 13-4, hit the crossbar three times including twice in the second half.

"We just couldn't finish," Zumwalt South coach LeAnne Sanders said. "Our girls know that it can be a cruel game sometimes."

Sanders said the players can look back on their amazing three-year run with pride. Zumwalt South was the first girls public school to win three successive titles.

"These girls have set the bar high for themselves," Sanders said. "Sometimes, you forget how impressive it is what this group has done. I'm forever proud of them."