The Edwardsville varsity field hockey team ended their season on Oct. 21 after a loss against St. Joseph’s Academy at John Burroughs School.

The Tigers, seeded No. 12, beat Lindbergh 11-0 in the first round of the Midwest Tournament. After a 4-1 loss against St. Joe in the second round, Edwardsville’s record stood at 10-13-2.

The SJA Angels, seed No. 5, had the Tigers on the defense from the beginning. Edwardsville played it safe while the Angels played hard offense.

This paid off. By the half, St. Joe had scored two goals against junior goalkeeper Anna Farrar.

Senior Ansley Dorsey, a midfielder, felt that the team had trouble “finishing goals and scoring when we needed.”

After halftime, Edwardsville came out looking like a different team. Senior Natalie Nava dribbled the ball down the field and scored with an assist from senior Sophia Swalley within the first three minutes of the second half.

“We put great pressure on St. Joe’s,” Swalley said. “Even after we were down by two, we attacked strong and hard and we were able to score on them.”

However, that’s where the Tigers stopped. With about three short corners for the rest of the half compared to the Angels’ 11, the Tigers let in two more goals with senior Sarah Blume in goal.

“We just had to play very defensively and that can really exhaust you and that’s where their advantage came from,” coach Jaimee Phegley said. “When they control the side of the field pretty strongly the first 15 to 25 minutes, it makes it hard to come back from.”

St. Joe’s record increased to 11-6-1. They played Cor Jesu Academy on Oct. 24 and lost 1-0. Cor Jesu will go on to the semifinals and play Mary Institute Country Day School (MICDS) on Oct. 26.

This game was the last for seven seniors: Dorsey, Allie Hosto, Adrienne Kelley, Blume, Amanda Berdick, Swalley, Grace Ellis and Nava. All were original teammates from Liberty Middle School. Hosto and Swalley are both committed to play field hockey together at Lindenwood University, a division two school in St. Charles, Mo.

Despite the loss, the Tigers were glad to get on the board.

“We came out pretty strong from the half,” coach Phegley said. “Sophia and Natalie made (that goal) happen and we were able to score right off of it.”