Throughout the weekend, Quincy Notre Dame senior midfielder Brooke Dreyer and senior forward Samantha Hall will offer their behind-the-scenes perspective of the QND girls soccer team’s trip to the Class 1A state tournament in Naperville. Here’s what they had to say about Saturday’s title-winning effort:

“All We Do Is Win Win Win No Matter What” — DJ Khaled

This song is dedicated to this weekend’s state tournament games. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, our soccer team got first in state! We could not have done it without a few special people though. We would now personally like to thank our coach Mark Longo and the rest of the coaching staff (Anthony Longo, Randy Struck, Jason Keller and George McDonnell) for helping us fulfill a goal of making it to state!

Quincy Notre Dame seniors Samantha Hall, left, and Brooke Dreyer have provided a behind-the-scenes look at the Lady Raiders' state title experience.

The day started off with a 10 a.m. practice in the courtyard of our hotel. Longo made us get our legs a little stretched and gave us a pep talk before tonight’s game. We then headed back into our rooms, ate breakfast, relaxed and were on our way to the mall! Today we got two hours to go shopping! After shopping we got the choice between Jimmy Johns and Jason’s Deli. We then headed back to our rooms to get changed and go to church together as a team. On our way to church Longo told us to pray for tonight’s game, and the prayers were definitely answered.

After church we were on the last part of our state tournament journey. We got to the fields and were getting pumped up for the game. For us seniors, it was going to be the last game played as a Notre Dame Raider and we knew we had to go out with a win, we were allowing no other way. The game was played and the refs were better, even though we did not need it. (Domination is what the game was.) We could not have had another way to end our season. It was the best feeling in the world and we know we can speak on part of our whole team that it will never be forgotten.

We would like to thank all of the fans who have supported us along the way.  You were part of the reason we made it here. A special shout out to our head coach Mark Longo. Thank you so much for all you have done for us and preparing our team for this state tournament. We could not have done it without you. We love you and will never forget all of the memories we have made being a part of your Lady Raider soccer team.

R.S.K.A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STATE CHAMPS BABY!!!!!

WOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leaving a legacy

The Class of 2000 is the standard by which all Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer teams will be measured.

During their four-year career, the Lady Raiders went 89-8-5 and made the first state tournament appearance in school history. They won their first 27 games and finished fourth at the single-class state tournament in 2000.

Two players from the Class of 2000 — Beth Liesen and Kim Genenbacher — went on to play for an NCAA Division I program, and that class had a hand in putting QND in the Illinois High School Association record book in several places.

So how does the Class of 2010 compare?

Well, the Lady Raiders won the first state championship in school history, capturing the Class 1A crown with Saturday night’s 2-0 victory over Manteno. They tied the school single-season record for shutouts with 19 and keeper Megan Rabe set the school’s career record for shutouts with 63.

In the last four years, the Class of 2010 has put together a record of 79-9-8 with four regional titles. They graduate without ever losing to crosstown rival Quincy High School.

Conclude whatever you will from that, but there is only one certainty.

The Class of 2010 has left a legacy.

Standing tall

If anyone wondered how QND keeper Megan Rabe would react if she faced any pressure in Saturday night’s state championship game, there was a reason why. She hadn’t been tested the entire postseason.

That changed against Manteno. And she had an answer for any critics.

She stood tall.

Rabe made a pair of stellar saves. First, she punched a free kick from the Panthers’ Allie Newsom from about 35 yards out over the crossbar late in the first half. Then, five minutes into the second half, Newsom hit a free kick from 35 yards out and played it over the defense and into the penalty area.

Manteno’s Sophie Meskis darted through the defense and slid to hit a shot that Rabe came out and covered as Meskis slid into her.

Rabe, who leaves with the school’s career record for shutouts with 63, showed she could be physical and quick and a big reason QND’s defense has been so good.

Throughout the weekend, Quincy Notre Dame senior midfielder Brooke Dreyer and senior forward Samantha Hall will offer their behind-the-scenes perspective of the QND girls soccer team’s trip to the Class 1A state tournament in Naperville. Here’s what they wrote about Friday:

Quincy Notre Dame's Samantha Hall, left, and Brooke Dreyer are chronciling the Lady Raiders' trip to the state tournament.

The day started off pretty early with a breakfast at the hotel. After we had breakfast, we went for what was supposed to be a two-hour practice, for an hour. It was short and to the point. The point, if we work hard tonight and play how we know we are capable, we will win. Winning was exactly what we did! But anyways, after practice we had time to relax and hang out with teammates. Some of us girls had a pretty good time. We t-pd our trainer Jay Zanger’s room and left some welcome letters. For the other girls, if you were looking for them, they were enjoying some quality education, watching Jerry Springer.

Around 1:00 the team headed to the mall, but was disappointed to know we only had an hour. Once we got to the mall the team bolted out of the bus so we could try and get to all the good stores. After the mall we all had different opinions on what to eat, but were taken to Jason’s Deli instead. We had just enough time to get back to the hotel, take a short nap, and get onto the bus to and head to the first game of state!

While on the trip there, our bus driver whom we now know as Jack almost collided head on with another car. Obviously our bus couldn’t move, so instead the other car had to back up down the turn lane. Tight corners are NOT Jack’s strong point. (We have figured this out many times, not just this occasion). So after this incident we were at the fields and had so many different emotions. Excitement, anxious, nervous, scared, and proud of ourselves for making it here.

The game had many up and downs. Referees definitely made it a down. We aren’t going to say much about them, but my mom could have reffed that game better. Enough said. We won and now are on our way to the championship tomorrow night! As we walked out of the stadium we were greeted and cheered on by our parade of fans. It almost felt as if we were famous. We headed back to the hotel for pizza, which took forever to arrive I might add.  After this it was time for lights out and to rest up for what tomorrow has in store for us.

• The celebration has begun. QND wins the state championship 2-0.

• Only 40 seconds remain.

• A corner kick by Manteno with 1:20 to go gets headed out of bounds.

• Two minutes remain in regulation.

• A Manteno foul with 3:33 to go gives Reis another free kick that she crosses into the box. It rolls out to Claire Obert, who fires a shot wide of the net.

• QND coach Mark Longo making sure all his players get in the game. He has been substituting liberally.

• With 7:27 to go, Reis takes a free kick after a Manteno foul from 33 yards. It gets knocked around harmlessly.

• McLaughlin fires a liner at the near post with 9:25 to go that Newsom catches.

• QND is 10 minutes from winning the first state championship in program history.

• With 11:28 to go, Manteno’s Allie Newsom hits a free kick from 30 yards on the left wing over the net.

• Katie Hancox puts a shot on goal for QND with 13:40 to play.

• With 17:00 to go, Frericks dekes a defender, cuts back from the right corner and hits a low liner to the near post that Newsom is able to cover.

• Manteno earns a corner kick with 20:30 to play. It’s cleared out of trouble.

• With 21: 30 to go, Grawe gets a shot from the left wing that Newsom catches close to the near post.

• Foley makes a run with 24:42 to go, but her low shot if smothered by Newsom. She follows it up les than 20 seconds later with a hard liner that Newsom knocks down and covers.

• A foul on Manteno allows Reis to set up a free kick 35 yards out that Newsom leaps to catch with 29:00 to play.

• At 31:21, Leigh McLaughlin lets a ball played by Shannon Foley from the right wing go through across the top of the box. Abby Grawe filled from the left wing and hit a low liner into the corner past a diving Newsom for a 2-0 lead.

• GOAL!!!!!!!!

• At 32:05, Jordan Frericks picks up a yellow card.

• With 33:30 to go, Frericks lofts a shot toward the far past that carries high. It forces Manteno keeper Aryn Newsom to make a leaping save and punches it out.

• With 35:10 to go, Allie Newsom with a free kick from 35 yards out plays it over the defense and into the penalty area. Manteno’s Sophie Meskis darts through the defense and slides to hit a shot that Rabe comes out and covers as Meskis slides into her.

• The Lady Raiders are quicker to loose balls and have been able to make runs up both sidelines and get back the wing defenders. It’s allowed QND to put the ball into pressure situations.

• QND opens the second half leading 1-0. The Lady Raiders have dominated play so far, allowing only two scoring chances for the Panthers. QND outshot Manteno 14-3 in the first half. QND had six shots on goal, while Manteno had only one.

Check out www.whig.com and this blog for complete coverage of the state championship game. I’ll provide a Beyond the Boxscore with a look at the news and notes from the game. We’ll have reaction from the players and coaching staff. Brooke Dreyer and Samantha Hall will provide a player’s diary on all that happened. And we’ll take a look at how this creates a legacy for this senior class.

• The first half ends with QND leading 1-0.

• After McLaughlin is stopped by Aryn Newsom, QND is called for a foul, giving Allie Newsom a free kick from 35 yards out on the left wing. Rabe punches the shot over the net with her first big save of the postseason.

• At 3:04, QND keeper Megan Rabe touches the ball for the first time, coming out to grab a ball that had been harmlessly played into the box off a restart by Allie Newsom.

• At 4:16, Reis takes a free kick from 20 yards out on the far right wing and plays the ball to the far post. Newsom is unable to come off the line and catch it, allowing Foley to punch it in for the 1-0 lead.

• GOAL!!!!!

• Foul on Manteno’s Sydney Couch gives Reis a free kick from 33 yards out on the left wing. Her floater hits the crossbar and the rebound comes to Foley. Her shot goes into the side of the net.

• At 7:50, QND gets its best opportunity. The corner by Paula Holm draws Newsom off her line and the ball gets battled to Lexi Niemann filling from the left wing. Niemann’s shot goes high and through the football uprights.

• A run by McLaughlin gets thwarted, but it ends with QND getting another corner with 8:02 to go.

• McLaughlin flicks a pass over the defense, trying to set up Foley for a run. Ball gets knocked out, resulting in another corner.

• QND earns another corner at 11:30 with Reis coming up from her sweeper spot to take it.

• The corner is played by Burgess back to Reis, who lofts a ball into the box in front of the net. The ball gets knocked out to the wing where Lexie Dreyer hits a shot high.

• Frericks battles with defender Grisel Sanchez to win a corner kick with 12:50 to go.

• At 15:15, Burgess takes a shot from 25 yards out at the left post. Newsom catches and clears.

• Manteno keeper Aryn Newsom is doing a good job of controlling the penalty area.

• At 19:15, Burgess takes a pass from Foley and touches it to the middle. There, she blasts a shot that Newsom leaps to catch.

• A foul throw negates a chance for QND to make a run.

• A foul on Manteno allowed Alex Reis to take a free kick from 40 yards. It sails to the keeper.

• McLaughlin gets hammered by a defender without a call and comes out rubbing her neck and the back of her head with 22:40 to go.

• At 24:00, QND makes a run with Abby Grawe and McLaughlin playing a game of give-n-go. Grawe tries to feed Foley wide, but Foley floated offsides before the pass.

• Foley gets taking down near the sideline by Manteno’s Ruthie Johnson and spills onto the track surrounding the field.

• McLaughlin makes a deft pass to feed Foley making a run from the left wing, but a defender gets in the way and the ball rolls into the penalty are to the keeper.

• at 29:50, Foley dekes a defender and feeds Frericks, but her shot from 10 yards goes high.

• Burgess tries to set up McLaughlin, but her attempt from 25 yards goes high over the goal.

• QND’s Jordan Frericks kicks the ball of a defender, earning the Lady Raiders a corner kick with 31:14 to go.

• Manteno midfielder Allie Newsom has a big leg. She booms the ball.

• At 34:45, McLaughlin runs down a ball in the box, which Newsom slides out to knock it off her feet, spilling McLaughlin to the turf.

• At 35:19, Lexi Niemann takes a flick from Leigh McLaughlin and heads a shot near the post.

• At 37:02, Foley attempts QND’s first shot on goal, which Manteno keeper Aryn Newsom catches near the left post.

• In the first three minutes, QND is able to use its speed to get some chances.

• Shannon Foley makes the first run for QND, tracking down a ball played long by Brooke Burgess. Foley beats the defender, but the ball rolls harmlessly to the keeper.

• Allie Newsom gets free 35 yards from the goal and blasts a shot over the net 30 seconds into the match.

• QND is defending the north goal and moving right to left in front of the grandstand.

• PLAY BALL!

• They are finishing the player introductions and will do the national anthem next.

• I’m going to post the freshest news at the top of this blog, so the first thing you read when you log on will be the most up-to-date information.

• Earlier today, I posted a scouting report on Manteno and there is just one name you need to know: Allie Newsom. The Illinois State University-bound midfielder has 37 goals this season and scored Manteno’s only goals in the sectional championship and state semifinal games. She wears No. 16 and will be the focal point of QND’s defensive gameplan.

• If you have any questions or comments during the game, please post them below. I will answer them at halftime or during the half if time allows. I will try to provide as many details about the play as possible.

• QND is once again wearing the visiting colors as the Lady Raiders are decked out in navy shirts with white shorts and navy socks. Manteno is wearing all white.

The Class 1A state championship game is about 20 minutes from starting. There are 12 minutes remaining on the clock for warm-ups and the player introductions will follow.

The Class 1A state championship game between the Quincy Notre Dame and Manteno girls soccer teams will start closer to 8 p.m. The third-place game went overtime with Rockford Lutheran winning on a goal with 7:21 remaining in the first overtime. They are doing the trophy presentations and handing out individual medals right now.

As soon as the trophy ceremony is over, QND and Manteno will have 20 minutes to warm up on the field.

The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team enjoyed a light morning workout, and around 12:30 p.m., the Lady Raiders went to the mall to relax and take their minds off the game.

They arrived at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium about 5:30 p.m. in preparation for the 7:30 p.m. championship.

Again, you can follow the progress of the championship right here as I will update the blog live throughout both halves. Also, check Sunday’s newspaper and www.whig.com for complete coverage of the championship game.

Manteno is the defending Class 1A state champion after beating Alton Marquette 1-0 in a penalty-kick shootout in last year’s title game.

Allie Newsom, the senior midfielder who leads the Panthers with 37 goals this season, broke her right foot 12 games into last season and was on the bench for Manteno’s postseason push. She’s making amends for it this season.

Newsom scored the only goal in Manteno’s 1-0 victory over Rochester in the second overtime of the sectional championship. She scored both goals in the 2-0 semifinal victory over Lisle on Friday night.

“I missed out last year and just wanted to get back and experience it for myself,” Newsom told reporters after the sectional championship. “Last year, I was running to hug Aryn after we won. Tonight, she was sprinting to get to me after the game-winner.”

Newsom was referring to her twin sister, Aryn, who is Manteno’s starting keeper. They have both signed with Illinois State University.

And they’ve already experienced a fire truck ride.

After the sectional victory, the Panthers received a fire truck ride around the town of 8,000.

Manteno, which is 21-1-3 this season, has a 43-1-3 record the last two seasons.

Credit Newsom for helping the Panthers get back to the title match. She scored both goals on shots from 30-plus yards, hitting one left-footed and one right-footed.

“If they give me the space then I’ll shoot it (from that far),” Newsom told the Chicago Sun-Times. “The first half, they were on me a little bit tighter. Then they gave me space the second half so I took a couple shots.”

She took 12 of the Panthers’ 16 shots.

Manteno has 16 shutouts this season.

The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team will play for a state championship following Friday’s 1-0 victory over Rockford Lutheran in the Class 1A state semifinals at North Central College in Naperville. Leigh McLaughlin scored an unassisted goal in the 58th minute for QND.

The Lady Raiders (23-2) will face Manteno (21-1-3) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.