By MATT SCHUCKMAN

Herald-Whig Sports Writer

They scurried out of Flinn Stadium, wrapped in blankets and sweatshirts and desperately seeking the warmth of a running car.

Still, there were some playful giggles coming from the Quincy High School girls soccer players since Saturday afternoon's 2-1 victory over Jefferson City (Mo.) Helias meant they had survived the cold.

And the flurries.

First, Mother Nature smacked the Blue Devils square in the face, throwing sleet and snow at them just as the game started. Nearly 70 minutes later, the Lady Crusaders smacked them again, peppering the Blue Devils with shots in hopes of overcoming a two-goal deficit.

Quincy (7-1-1) proved to be up to the challenge.

"That's a quality win," said QHS coach Bill Sanders, whose team won for the first time since having its six-game winning streak snapped on April 1.

"They really did put some pressure on us. They're a nice team."

Although Helias scored with 3 minutes, 28 seconds left in regulation, Quincy keeper Brittany Senator made three quality saves in the final 10 minutes, and defender Megan Conover won a key loose ball in the box when she fought off Helias all-stater Melissa Young.

In fact, half of Helias' shots on goal came during the closing flurry.

"We stayed in there," Sanders said. "We didn't back down."

Helias had succumbed to pressure, which is why the Lady Crusaders were in a 2-0 hole.

A little less than 16 minutes into the game, QHS senior forward Katie Runyon one-timed a cross from Kelseigh Ruths past Helias keeper Jill Szumigala for a 1-0 lead.

Ruths made it 2-0 with 11:05 to go in the first half when she headed in a cross from Lydia Disseler on a corner kick.

"Both of our goals were nice finishes," Sanders said. "I like the fact we finished in the first half."

Both goals came because Quincy forced the attack.

"What I really liked was the pressure we put on them," Sanders said. "When we put pressure on them, they made mistakes."

Helias, however, controlled play in the second half, limiting the Blue Devils to three shots on goal. Sanders knows Quincy is capable of avoiding lulls that result in a lack of an attack.

"We put together 60 minutes of a pretty good game," Sanders said. "We need to get to 80. Physically and mentally, we have to put together that 80-minute game.

"We're a work in progress trying to put together that 80-minute game."

-- mschuckman@whig.com/221-3366