Cor Jesu Takes State Title with 3-0 Victory

There was no question who deserved to be state champions. 

With a 3-0 win in the final game, the Cor Jesu Academy Chargers came into the state soccer tournament ranked No. 1 and left with two wins and a trophy. 

The team defeated Lee's Summit North in the final game to become Class 3 state champions on Saturday and earn school's second state title. 

Cor Jesu was in control the entire game, scoring three goals in the first half. 

Leading scorer Jenn Miller took charge and scored in the first 10 minutes of the match. 

Sister Kelly Miller knocked in the second goal, with junior Tess Wemhoener delivering the nail in the coffin. 

The Chargers made the final game look easy, but overcame adversity in a 1-0 victory in the semifinals against Springfield Glendale. 

Maria Merlo's impressive ball-handling surprised a Glendale defender before dropping it into the net with less than five minutes to play. It was the senior's fifth goal of the season. 

Coach Missy Bruno knew the title was more than attainable for the Chargers.  

The team ended every practice, game and team huddle with the same cheer.

Bruno would bring the team into a huddle and shout the words “Get to...” and the team would follow with a collective whisper of the word “state.”

As the season went along and the Chargers got closer to reaching their goal, Bruno told the team to get louder on their part of the cheer to signify how much closer they were to actually reaching the state championships.

The team finished the season with a record of 23-2.