On Tuesday evening, the Collinsville High School girls soccer team had a chance to beat Edwardsville in the postseason for the third consecutive year, and hand the Tigers just their second loss this season.

Matty Merlak / Photo by Sherry Holten

Unfortunately for the Kahoks, Edwardsville (22-1) came away with the 4-0 victory in the first round of the Sectionals.

Collinsville Head Coach Clay Smith said the team started well in the first 20 minutes of the game, but Edwardsville regrouped.

“They came at us. They came back,” Smith said. “They caught us in some missed opportunities.”

Neither team scored in the first half and Smith said he told his team at halftime that it was creating a lot of its own mistakes.

“A lot of it was caused by our own mistakes, but good teams like that, they’ll punish you for it,” Smith said.

One thing that was different in the second half was Collinsville not winning any of the 50/50 balls, Smith said.

“Halftime, they must have made it well known they weren’t winning those balls,” Smith said. “We just couldn’t get to a ball.”

Five minutes into the second frame, Edwardsville sophomore Katlyn Schneider scored the first goal of the game off of a throw in that fell to her feet.

One minute later, the Kahoks had a chance to answer on a corner kick that also fell into the box, but the Tigers cleared it to safety.

Three minutes later, Edwardsville scored again. This time, the goal was a rocket into the upper corner of the goal that came on a free kick about 35 yards away.

Smith said the second goal was a result of a silly foul.

“There’s nothing you can do about that, but you have to limit those opportunities,” Smith said.

Collinsville had another chance to get on the scoreboard one minute after the second goal, but the Edwardsville goalkeeper saved the shot.

In the end, the Tigers outshot the Kahoks 19-6. Their third goal came off the head of Schneider in the 63rd minute, and their final goal was scored with just over two minutes left by senior Lilly Cobb.

Smith said both teams have improved since their first meeting this year on March 27, when the Kahoks won 1-0.

“They wanted this one, that’s for sure,” Smith said. “I’m sure revenge is sweet for them.”

Collinsville finishes the year with a record of 14-6-2. Smith said the Kahoks had a great season, and he wishes Edwardsville the best of luck going forward.

“It’s always fun meeting [Edwardsville] in this match-up,” Smith said. “I guess you can’t win them all.”