For the Notre Dame Academy Pandas, last year’s heartbreak was never forgotten — just quietly stored away, waiting for the right moment to be set right.
That moment came Thursday night at St. Henry High School.
Nearly a year after a crushing 1-0 loss to Conner ended their season in the 9th Region soccer semifinals, the Pandas flipped the script in emphatic fashion, defeating the Cougars 3-0 to advance to the regional championship.
“Obviously this game is a little bit more personal because of the way things ended last year, so it definitely had a tie,” Pandas senior Ellie Hayob said. “But I think for the most part, we put it behind us and just played our game.”
Coach Cory Dan may not have wanted to make it about revenge, but for his players, the motivation was undeniable. The loss had been a source of offseason fuel, a reminder of unfinished business.
“Honestly it hasn’t been mentioned,” Dan said. “It’s all about this year, some of those girls are graduated, they were not living in the past. We’re looking for the future goals of the team.”
For 40 tense minutes, the game mirrored last year’s meeting — tight, defensive, and physical. Conner’s back line, led by standout defender Izelee Kerns, disrupted Notre Dame’s rhythm and held the Pandas scoreless at halftime. Conner displayed the better chances, but were ate up by Pandas keeper Joelle Hentz.
“If we score one or two of the opportunities, and we have a lead going into the second half it is a whole changed environment,” Cougars coach Mike Hughes said. “Unfortunately, I’ve been around the game too long to know if you let teams hang around and then they got that corner, and we kind of got deflated a little bit.”
When the teams returned from the break, Notre Dame unleashed a second-half performance that was as methodical as it was relentless. The Pandas adjusted their attack, spreading the field and working the sidelines to bypass Kerns’ defensive presence. The tactical change paid immediate dividends.
“We knew that they had their best players through the spine, like through their center backs, midfields and up top,” Dan said. “So we just said, ‘Hey, we have to play around these girls.’ So we got to move the ball side to side, maintained possession and wanted to wear them out a little bit.”
In the 50th minute, Gracie Haines bent a corner kick into the box, where Hayob — who missed all of last season with a knee injury — rose above the crowd and buried a header into the net. The sideline erupted. For Hayob, the goal symbolized more than a lead — it marked her personal comeback story.
With one goal in hand, Notre Dame didn’t let up. The Pandas pressed the pace, keeping Conner on its heels and dictating play through precision passing and high-pressure defense. Sophia Reedy extended the lead in the 71st minute, calmly finishing a through ball from Megan Johns past the keeper to make it 2-0. Just five minutes later, Addi Frondorf capped the night with a third goal from a corner kick on a pass from Haines, slamming home the dagger that sealed the revenge victory.
In goal, Joelle Hentz provided a steady presence with four saves — two of them coming in key moments late in the first half, when Conner controlled possession and looked most dangerous. Behind her, the Pandas earned their 10th shutout of the season, showcasing a balance between defensive poise and offensive efficiency that has defined their fall campaign.
“Everything starts with our goalkeeper,” Dan said. “She’s a phenomenal leader of this team. Great save on a breakaway, collects balls on the back on a long ball. She makes those decisions which tells the team so much.”
Now, Notre Dame turns its attention to Saturday’s 9th Region Championship, where they’ll face Highlands — the two who have combined to win the last 13 Ninth Region titles. Notre Dame has won eight in that span, Highlands with five.
PHOTOS: Slideshow provided by Charles Bolton
As for Conner, the loss ends a remarkable two-year run in which the Cougars won 39 games and lost only nine. They reached the region championship last year and the semis this year with two district titles mixed in.
“Been in the Final Four, been to the region finals and they’ve been ranked in the state. They’ve taken the program to new heights and that says something,” Hughes said. “They used to be like it’s Notre Dame and we’re scared, but now we just compete against anybody. Our schedule is tough and anybody is anybody.”
With just four seniors graduating, the future remains bright — but for now, the night belonged to the Pandas, who finally got their closure.