By MATT SCHUCKMAN
Herald-Whig Sports Writer
Who's next?
That's what Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer coach Mark Longo had to be asking himself after senior midfielder Janell Vermeire strained her groin during Saturday's action at the QND/Advance Physical Therapy Tournament.
Vermeire became the sixth member of the Lady Raiders' walking wounded -- players with a variety of injuries who have forced Longo to use his entire roster and unique lineups in order to survive.
Much to their credit and Longo's delight, the Lady Raiders have done more than survive.
They've thrived.
"It's a continuing theme with us, but somebody steps up and does the job," said Longo, whose team takes a 15-2-2 record into tonight's 6 p.m. rematch with Quincy High School. "It's been a frustrating year injury-wise. It seems like every game we're losing somebody. Yet, somebody is there to fill in.
"There's a lot of pride knowing we can do that."
The Lady Raiders buy into the theory.
"Everyone plays a part," senior sweeper Genevieve Niemann said. "We've had so many different players move into a new role or a different position, and they've all succeeded. We've played well as a team."
That's because no one has had to shoulder the load alone.
Sophomore stopper Claire Obert moved into an unfamiliar position when starting stopper Kayla Struck went down with a season-ending knee injury, and she's been a bedrock of the defensive effort.
In the 3-0 victory over Peoria Richwoods during the QHS Tournament, Obert marked Louisville-bound forward Courtney Holtz and limited her to just one shot.
"She's been spectacular for us," Longo said.
It's because playing a variety of positions has made the Lady Raiders understand the game better.
"I think it has," Obert said. "We're playing different positions, and we've seen what it's accomplished."
It's allowed Longo to make the lineup more potent.
With sophomore forward Leigh McLaughlin likely sidelined the rest of the regular season and senior forward Mercedee Esterlein battling leg injuries, sophomore Alex Reis moved to the top and earned all-tournament honors last weekend.
"She is a little more offensive-minded and creative," Longo said of Reis.
Esterlein, who missed the QHS Tournament, is getting stronger. She played substantial minutes last weekend and scored two goals in Monday night's 5-0 victory over Hannibal.
That's a sign of good things to come.
Put Esterlein up front with all-stater Erin Thomas, an improving Reis and a healthy McLaughlin and QND stacks up offensively with any team it will face in the regional or sectional.
"We've been able to overcome things because we work as a team," Reis said. "We'll continue to do that."
-- mschuckman@whig.com/221-3366
