GODFREY — The season scoring line on Katie Kercher is fairly impressive enough – seven goals and seven assists with one game-winning goal.

But the junior forward has developed into so much more for the 9-3-1 Alton girls soccer team. In fact, Redbirds coach Jeff Hayes said that when presented with her to-do list, Kercher went to work straightaway.

“I’ve told her that her role is more than just scoring goals,” Hayes said. “She’s taken it to heart and does a tremendous job of running down balls, beating defenders and setting up her teammates.

I don’t think she gets enough credit for the little things she can do in a game,” Hayes said. “She’s starting to draw more attention because of it.”

The attention isn’t just from fans, of course. Opposing teams realize they have someone else to be worried with on the Redbirds.

“My first job is to play as hard as I can,” Kercher said. “I think playing up top, I try to apply as much pressure as I can. I need to do whatever I can to help our team keep possession of the ball and to create chances to score goals.”

That she has done.

To wit: In Tuesday’s 5-0 win over Breese Mater Dei, Kercher outraced the Mater Dei defense to more than one loose ball that may have otherwise been a throw-in for the Knights. In one case, Kercherhad crossed a pass to teammate won the ball deep in Mater Dei territory and banked a shot in off a Knights defender for a goal. Earlier, she assisted a Lindsey Grossheim goal with a crisp pass from the left.

While plays like those improve Kercher’s stats, it’s the intangibles she brings to the table that are just an impressive to her coach.

“Over the past two years, she has improved on holding off defenders,” Hayes said, “attacking with speed and poise along with finishing.”

Kercher plays club soccer for Sporting Saint Louis SC. And while she recognizes that playing for a high-level club has helped her land that starting role at AHS, she said there is a difference between club and high school soccer that has been recognized by Hayes – and has also helped the Redbirds.

“(Hayes) knows there’s a difference in style between club and high school,” Kercher said. “Club can more about possession and connecting a lot of passes, but some clubs play different styles.

“High school is a different style. We have girls from several clubs on the high school team, but we all play the same style of high school soccer and that’s important.”

Kercher, while determined on the field, doesn’t often loose her cool.

“Her teammates tease her for being such an easy-going person,” Hayes said. “She’s like that on the field too. But she’ll still run through anyone to win a ball and score or set up her teammate. She really doesn’t care which it is.”

Kercher, who’s played varsity since her freshman season, was a solid player her first two seasons at AHS, but has risen the bar this year.

“(Kercher) has been a work horse up top all season,” Hayes said. “She is just a great person to coach and be around. As a sophomore, she did well but this has been a break out season for her.”

Kercher has scored some memorable goals this season, including a pair of them in a 3-2 victory over Althoff. But ever the good teammate, she’s just as happy when teammates score.

Her season’s favorite memory so far?

“The goal Bri (Hatfield) scored late to tie Althoff at McKendree,” Kercher said. “It was really a nice shot.”

So, who assisted on that nice Hatfield goal?

“Oh yeah,” Kercher admitted. “I crossed it to her.”