Marion soccer gets blasted in sectional semifinal

MARION -- The historic season for the Marion High School girls soccer team came to a screeching halt Tuesday night with a 7-0 mercy-clock loss to Waterloo in the semifinals of the Marion 2A Sectional at Wildcat Stadium.
Marion finishes at 17-5-3 after tying the school record for wins in a season.
Blake Clark scored 52 goals this season to put her on the all-time IHSA list but the Lady Wildcats were held to one shot on goal in the entire match Tuesday.
Clark also added her name to the all-time list by scoring in 15 consecutive matches during the regular season and Marissa Basi will be added to the list for most assists in a season after collecting 32.
Marion had just one senior on the team in Jessica Schuetz, who signed with Illinois College in Jacksonville to continue her career.
Sydney Luedeman scored two goals in the first 15 minutes to put Waterloo ahead, then increased the lead with two quick goals by Sydney Stephens.
Marion trailed 4-0 at halftime and then faced the mercy clock when Karleigh Daniels, Paige Kinzinger and Stephens all scored in a five-minute stretch to make it 7-0.
Waterloo, which is now 17-2-3, advances to face Troy Triad (16-4-3) in Friday evening's championship match. Triad rolled to a 6-0 win over Carbondale in the other semifinal Tuesday.
Rather than make those teams come back to Wildcat Stadium, it was announced Wednesday that Friday's title clash will be held in O'Fallon.
Waterloo and Triad split their matches during the regular season. Triad is the defending state champion.