Fighting Saints roll past Peoria Richwoods 8-0 behind second-half surge

St. Charles East turned a solid first half into a runaway finish Friday, piling up six goals after the break in an 8-0 victory over Peoria Richwoods. The Fighting Saints led 2-0 at halftime, then broke the match open with a relentless second-half attack that showcased the depth and sharp passing that have fueled one of the area’s strongest seasons.

Lilly Margewich opened the scoring at 33:32 of the first half off an assist from Sophia Wollenberg, giving the Saints an early lift. Georggia Desario added the second goal at 24:45, finishing a setup from Mya Leon to send St. Charles East into halftime in control. Even with the lead, the Saints were only getting started.

The decisive stretch came in the second half, when St. Charles East scored three times before the final 15 minutes. Leon struck first at 37:45 on an assist from Qori Strotkamp, then scored again at 30:00 off a Wollenberg feed. Leon completed a hat trick at 15:00, this time converting a pass from Desario, as the Saints’ attack kept finding space and turning chances into goals.

The late flurry only added to the momentum. Desario scored at 10:00 with Leon earning the assist, Strotkamp finished at 7:30 off a Desario setup, and Wollenberg capped the day at 4:45 on an assist from Margewich. Leon figured in five goals overall, scoring three and adding two assists, while Desario had two goals and two assists. Wollenberg contributed a goal and two assists, and Margewich and Strotkamp each added a goal and an assist.

On the other end, goalkeeper Mia Olenek anchored the shutout, playing all 80 minutes and making two saves. The clean sheet was another strong defensive showing for St. Charles East, which improved to 13-0-4 overall and 2-0-1 in conference play. Friday’s result was another emphatic statement from a Fighting Saints team that continues to combine finishing power with steady defending.