St. Joseph’s Jo Carollo blasts two goals in front of coach who introduced her to field hockey

FRONTENAC — St. Joseph’s junior Jo Carollo stepped into a shot with all her might Wednesday afternoon.

The ball connecting with Carollo’s stick sounded like a crack of thunder — a noise that echoed off the nearby building on the St. Joseph’s campus — before it screamed into the net, helping the Angels to a 5-2 victory against Kirkwood in the nonconference field hockey game.

Carollo glanced over to the Kirkwood bench and exchanged smiles with Pioneers assistant coach Maura Sawicki, who coached Carollo with a club team in her grade-school days.

“I think it’s really exciting,” Carollo said. “She got me into field hockey. It’s fun to have her see how much I’ve progressed since then.”

Carollo scored twice as St. Joseph’s (7-3) won for the sixth time in seven games.

She gave the Angels an early lead with the opening goal of the game and put them ahead 2-1 in the second quarter on her well-struck shot, which resulted in her team-leading 10th goal of the season.

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“I really wanted to put us ahead,” Carollo said. “I saw space and I trusted my shot. We have a bit of an advantage because this is our home field. I know how to shoot it off the grass really well. We practice it every day and I think my instincts just took over. I just shot it.”

While she’s starting as a defender this season, Carollo has bounced all over the Angels’ lineup in her three seasons.

“I like it a lot. In club, and every time I play, I’m all over the field,” Carollo said. “I really like it because I get to learn different aspects of different positions.”

Seeing Carollo’s laser shot from the circle of course also brought a smile to Angels coach Claire Aubel.

“As soon as we cross that line, it’s a shot, not a pass,” the St. Joseph’s coach said. “We don’t want corners, we want to shoot.”

Whether or not the Angels were looking for corners, they amassed eight corner opportunities against Kirkwood (9-4).

The Angels maintained steady pressure in the first half, but goalkeeper Ellie Hubbard was a brick wall for the Pioneers.

“She’s progressed and has gotten so good at understanding her position and her job,” Kirkwood head coach Dana Oppermann said. “She’s just been stellar.”

Hubbard recorded 14 saves for the Pioneers. 

Clinging to a 2-1 lead, junior Anna Spalitto gave the Angels some breathing room with back-to-back goals in the third quarter. 

“It just kind of happened in the flow and the way the game went,” Spalitto said. “I was just in the right place at the right time.”

Mia Ryan tallied the fifth and final goal for the Angels late in the fourth quarter. 

Emma Appel and Madeleine Krewet each scored once for the Pioneers, who despite the loss are off to their best start since 2011.

“We’re proud of everything they’ve done this year and how far they’ve come,” Oppermann said. “Most of them have never played on varsity before. We’re thrilled.”

St. Joseph’s 5, Kirkwood 2

Kirkwood goalkeeper Ellie Hubbard (left) comes out of goal to block a point-blank shot by St. Joseph forward Mia Ryan. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

St. Joseph midfielder Jo Carollo lines up a shot. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

St. Joseph forward Mia Ryan (left) and teammate Anna Spalitto run to each other for a congratulatory hug after Ryan scored. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

Kirkwood defender Emma Appel (left) and St. Joseph forward Meredith Dunn vie for the ball. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

St. Joseph midfielder Jo Carollo (left) and Kirkwood defender Emma Appel vie for the ball. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

Kirkwood defender Mya Losse (right) shoots past St. Joseph midfielder Annie Malloy. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

St. Joseph forward Anna Spalitto (center) moves the ball towards the goal as Kirkwood players move in. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

St. Joseph midfielder Jo Carollo winds up to take a shot on the Kirkwood goal. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

St. Joseph forward Meredith Dunn (left) moves the ball under pressure from Kirkwood defender Mya Losse. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

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St. Joseph midfielder Lauren Miner (right) tries to get a shot off near the Kirkwood goal as Kirkwood defender Hadley Krewet (left) and goalkeeper Ellie Hubbard defend. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

St. Joseph forward Grace Ghere shoots. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

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Kirkwood goalkeeper Ellie Hubbard blocks a shot on goal. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

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From left: Kirkwood goalkeeper Ellie Hubbard, Kirkwood defender Hadley Krewet, St. Joseph midfielder Lauren Miner, and St. Joseph forward Mia Ryan turn to see a call by the official. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

St. Joseph midfielder Jo Carollo takes a shot on the Kirkwood goal. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

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Kirkwood forward Ryan Cook moves the ball downfield as St. Joseph players pace her. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

St. Joseph forward Mia Ryan (center) moves to the ball as Kirkwood players (from left) Georgia Torpey, Hadley Krewet, and Molly Browne move in. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

St. Joseph midfielder Jo Carollo lines up a shot on goal. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

St. Joseph midfielder Lauren Miner (left) and Kirkwood forward Melissa Higgins vie for the ball. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

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St. Joseph forward Anna Spalitto (left) shoots the ball downfield under pressure from Kirkwood defender Hadley Krewet. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

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St. Joseph midfielder Maddie Croghan (left) and Kirkwood defender Hadley Krewet vie for the ball. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

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St. Joseph defender Emily Hoehn (left) shoots past Kirkwood forward Madeleine Krewet. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

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Kirkwood goalkeeper Ellie Hubbard runs out of goal. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

St. Joseph forward Mia Ryan (center) moves the ball downfield amid a trio of Kirkwood players. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

St. Joseph forward Mia Ryan (center) moves the ball downfield as Kirkwood defender Molly Browne reaches in. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

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St. Joseph’s midfielder Lauren Miner (left) congratulates teammate Jo Carollo after Carollo scored early in the game. St. Joseph’s Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph’s Academy in Frontenac, Mo., on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

St. Joseph goalkeeper Paige Jackson (center) drops to the turf as she blocks a shot by Kirkwood forward Melissa Higgins (left). At right is St. Joseph teammate Lauren Miner. St. Joseph Academy defeated Kirkwood 5-2 in field hockey at St. Joseph Academy in Frontenac, MO on Wednesday September 27, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Tim Vizer

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