MOLINE -- Once the ball left her foot on Tuesday night, Moline sophomore forward Alannah Crompton could not tell if the shot from 25 yards out went into the net or was corralled by the defense.
Only the roar of the crowd let her know the shot became a goal.
"Everybody got loud and started running to me," said Crompton, whose goal in the 47th minute punctuated the Maroons' 1-0 Western Big 6 Conference win over Quincy at Moline Soccer Bowl. "I was like, 'Oh. OK."
Before that, Crompton stoically stood in the middle of the field and wondered what was happening.
"I couldn't see it," Crompton said. "I didn't know it went in."
The shot was one of three Moline (9-4, 3-1 Big 6) had on the evening and the only one not within point-blank range. The first sailed wide left and the other was stuffed by Quincy keeper Michaela Cowman on a one-on-one opportunity against Jamie Althiser.
Crompton's shot, from a percentage standpoint, was the least-likely attempt to find the net.
"That's soccer," Quincy coach Travis Dinkheller said. "It can be a frustrating game at times. Tonight is frustrating."
Quincy (5-6-3, 2-1), which had its seven-match league winning streak snapped, had more scoring chances but never could convert. Attempts hit the crossbar or post in the first half as the Blue Devils took 10 shots. All of them were smothered by Moline junior keeper Hanna Snider, who posted her fourth shutout in seven matches.
"This game tells me a lot about their mental maturity," Moline coach Rick Sanchez said. "Quincy came up with a lot of pressure, and we had to make quick adjustments. ... We've been playing well defensively as of late."
After opening the Big 6 slate with a 5-2 loss at United Township, the Maroons now have won seven consecutive matches and three within the league to stay in the title race. To remain alive, they needed an unlikely goal.
Crompton delivered, even if she could not see it.
"That's why we tell the kids to take a chance when they have one," Sanchez said. "That's part of the game."
Alleman 9, Galesburg 0: The Pioneers scored five first-half goals in their Big 6 road romp of the winless Silver Streaks. Alleman (10-4, 2-1) received four goals from Emily Bollman, three from Madelyn Wendell and one apiece from Raquel Gonzalez and Katie Johannes.
"We played pretty well," Alleman coach Randy Bollman said.
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