Missouri State commit Grace O鈥橩eefe caps Saint Thomas Aquinas career with state title
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BVM) — Five years between state titles might not be a long drought for some girls soccer programs, but it was for St. Thomas Aquinas. The Saints claimed the first-ever Kansas state championship in 1993 and won 15 more over the next 23 years, never going more than three years without a title.聽
By the time Grace O鈥橩eefe鈥檚 senior year with Aquinas began in fall 2020, she was already one of the most accomplished soccer players in the state and had landed a scholarship to play Division I soccer with Missouri State University. But unlike hundreds of former Saints players who came before her, O鈥橩eefe had yet to experience winning a state title. She came close as a sophomore when Aquinas reached the Class 5A title match but lost a 1-0 battle with rival St. James Academy. O鈥橩eefe and the Saints would鈥檝e likely made another strong run at the title the following season which was lost to the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淚t left a really bitter taste in my mouth,鈥� O鈥橩eefe said. 鈥淭his year coming back I think we were all really fired up and ready to make it count.鈥�
The Gatorade Kansas Girls Soccer Player of the Year made the most of her final opportunity this spring, leading Aquinas to the 17th state title in the program鈥檚 storied history and ending that five-year championship drought.
鈥淲e had 11 seniors this year and all of us were super close so to be able to go out like that and have an awesome senior season was incredible,鈥� O鈥橩eefe said, 鈥渆specially after missing out on last year.鈥�
O鈥橩eefe scored 13 goals and had 12 assists this past season and finished her Aquinas career with 48 goals and 22 assists. Fittingly, the team captain鈥檚 final goal was the Saints鈥� lone goal of the state title match against Blue Valley Southwest, which would ultimately be won by Aquinas in a penalty kick shootout.
鈥淎ll of my high school career kind of led up to that one moment,鈥� O鈥橩eefe said of her final goal. 鈥淚 had been in a little bit of a drought for scoring so to be able to — I can鈥檛 even describe it. It was unbelievable.鈥�
O鈥橩eefe had already established herself as one of the elite talents in the state prior to her senior season with Aquinas. She led the Saints in goals as a freshman and as a sophomore and was a first team all-state selection both years. O鈥橩eefe was also named a 2020 United Soccer Coaches High School All-American despite missing out on her junior season that spring. Last fall, she officially signed her letter of intent to continue her soccer career with Missouri State.
O鈥橩eefe drew interest from other Division I college programs from Power 5 conferences and was in talks with the University of Kansas and Kansas State University, but after talking with former Aquinas teammate Kyli Jackson, a soon-to-be-junior at Missouri State, she began to consider the possibility of becoming a Bear. The chance to pursue the major of her choice, mechanical engineering technology, while also still playing Division I soccer, would also be a key factor in O鈥橩eefe鈥檚 decision to join Missouri State.
鈥淚 talked to the coaches and the coaching staff was awesome right off the bat,鈥� O鈥橩eefe said, 鈥渁nd then I went down there and kind of fell in love with the campus and then academically everything just kind of fit into place because I鈥檓 able to pursue a major that at some of the top Division I programs I would probably not be able to major in.鈥�
Aquinas head coach Adam Lamb is confident that O鈥橩eefe will thrive with the Bears and will begin making an impact early in her college career — just as she did in high school with the Saints.
鈥淚 have no doubt she鈥檒l be a future captain of the Missouri State team,鈥� Lamb said. 鈥淚 have no doubt she鈥檒l probably earn a starting position as a freshman. 鈥� At the college level she鈥檚 going to do really well. I think Missouri State will be a level where she can really excel over the next four years.鈥�
