O’Fallon Christian Girls Soccer Player Moves to Starting Lineup

Heading into the season with a roster that lost nine seniors from last year, and features exactly zero seniors this year, girls varsity soccer coach Lu Garcia knew leadership would be an issue for the Eagles, especially during the early part of this season.

Christian High’s roster does feature several talented student-athletes, but Garcia questioned who would be the players this year that would be willing to do the little things to help the Eagles win games.

One player the coach knew he could count on this year, after watching her fill many roles for the team as a freshman last year, was midfielder and defender Kaitlyn Hahs.

Hahs started only a handful of games last year, and had four assists and no goals in her first high school season.

But Garcia liked the spunky, 5’5 player’s game so much, he made her his first sub off the bench in most games last year, and trusted her to be a key part of the Eagles defense this year.

“She’s got heart,” Garcia said. “She’s got a great understanding of the game. And she’s matured into a really key player for us this year.”

Garcia had planned to play Hahs in the midfield, next to junior scoring machine Davah Bruce (31 goals as a sophomore in 2010), and use their energy to spark the Eagle offense.

But when Christian lost its starting goalkeeper for the season, Garcia knew he’d have to start moving players around to fill roles they might have never played before.

Hahs was one of the first players Garcia thought could handle a position change without any question or problem.

“Kaitlyn has really stepped it up for us this year,” Garcia said. “We’re a really young team. And even though she’s a young player, she’s shows a lot of leadership.”

That leadership was tested a bit on Friday, when the Eagles suffered through a particularly bad day in a 4-0 loss to St. Charles High.

The Lady Pirates overpowered the smaller Christian High squad, dominating control of the ball throughout the contest for what proved to be an easier win than either team could’ve anticipated.

But Hahs was one player who continued to play hard for the Eagles despite the score, and said later that the only way to get through a game like that was to keep playing hard.

“I just have a real passion for the game,” Hahs said. “Attitude’s a big thing for us. There’s no point in giving up just because you’re losing. You have to keep your head up and keep going, and try (to turn things around).”

Hahs, who also studies tae kwon do and plays basketball and volleyball for Christian High, uses the lessons learned in those sports as inspiration for her play in soccer.

“I just try to go 100 percent all the time,” Hahs said. “I try to do my best in everything. And I hope I (get positive results) when I’m done.”

Hahs netted her first high school goal in Christian High’s 11-2 win over Valley Park last Wednesday. Garcia called it “a remarkable play” that impressed him immensely.

But instead of discussing her incredible first high school goal, Hahs was more interested in naming teammates that also deserve special recognition for their play so far this season.

“Tori Wagner has really been somebody that’s stepped up for us too,” Hahs said. “She’s playing goalie for us because our other goalie’s out. She’s never played goal before, and she’s just been unbelievable.”

The 5’8 Wagner, without any background as a soccer goalie, made two sensational saves for the Eagles against St. Charles, including one sprawling stop early in the second half, that prevented what seemed a sure Lady Pirate goal as the play developed.

“Coach always says a good player can play anywhere,” Hahs said. “And that’s what we try to do. We just keep working hard, and try to be as good this year as we were last year." 

Only time will tell how this season will play out for Christian High. But one thing’s for sure, Garcia has certainly found the leader he was looking for in Kaitlyn Hahs, the O’Fallon Patch's Spotlight Athlete of the Week.