Alexa Barnes scored two goals for the Cardinals against A.C. Flora. Photo by Pam Clark Catherine Gillespie and Alexa Barnes each scored twice to lead the Cardinal Newman Lady Cardinals to a 5–0 victory over the A. C. Flora Lady Falcons on Senior Night, Monday, April 26, 2010, at George R. Watson Field in Columbia.

The Lady Cardinals showed why they are the SCISA Region I–AAA champions early and often. In the seventh minute, senior Danielle Shaw received a corner kick from Sophie Cobb and put the ball in the back of the net to begin the scoring. Six minutes later, Barnes scored from about 18 yards out on a turn–and–shoot maneuver. And in the 19th minute, Gillespie, a senior, scored on a breakaway, chipping the ball past the keeper to give the Lady Cardinals a 3–0 lead.

The Lady Falcons did not have a scoring chance until the 34th minute when a crossing pass went through the goal box without anyone getting to it. Later in the half, a free kick went over the crossbar for Flora, and Cardinal Newman went into the half with the 3–0 lead.

Since CN keeper Molly Rainwater returned from a concussion in late March, she and the CN defense have allowed just one goal (against Gilbert) and zero goals in six region games, while the offense has scored roughly 40 goals. Photo by Jim Marczesky In the second half, the Cardinals continued the offensive pressure, and Gillespie scored her second goal off a cross from Cobb that was flicked off the head of Barnes. Six minutes later Barnes scored again, this time on her own breakaway, to complete the scoring. The Lady Falcons had one more opportunity to score in the 71st minute, but a redirect of a free kick hit the post, and Molly Rainwater was able to corral the ball before any damage could be done.

The Lady Cardinals (15–5–1, 9–0) travel to St. Joseph’s in an important region game. If the Cardinals win, they complete an undefeated region season, and St. Joseph’s will have to play Hammond for the three and four seeds in the playoffs. Then the Cardinals wrap up the regular season at Dreher April 29.

A.C. Flora’s Annie Jenkins and Cardinal Newman’s Catherine Gillespie collide going for the ball. Gillespie had two goals for CN. Photo by Jim Marczesky The Falcons (10–9, 7–2) lost to Hammond 2–1 April 27 and will complete the regular season with a trip to region foe Lugoff– Elgin May 4. They are currently in second place behind Chapin in Region IV–3A.