St. Cloud – The giddiness of summer expectations for girls’ soccer at Orono gave way to the determination of the regular season.

After routing a very good team in Park Center 4-0 on Wednesday in the Class 1A semifinals, that grit has morphed into confidence.

“I’d say that was some of our best soccer of the season,” said high-scoring senior midfielder Sophie Babo, who led the Spartans with two goals and an assist. “It all came together out there.”

A successful 2013 campaign had Orono (18-2-1) thinking big thoughts in the off-season. When Babo, who was recently named Ms. Soccer in Class 1A, and junior Carly Goehring returned after missing 2013 while playing club soccer, the Spartans began talking state tournament.

“That’s what we’ve talked about all season,” senior forward Carly Hewitt said. “We want this so bad.”

Hewitt got the Spartans off to a quick start, scoring on a header off a feed from Babo. Hewitt said the pass was so good, she didn’t even see the goal.

“Sophie made a great pass. I went up to hit it and then I hit the ground,” Hewitt said. “I never saw it.”

Babo scored two consecutive goals, one to end first half and another midway through the second to salt the game away. Alex Rusciano added the Spartans’ final goal in the 63rd minute.

“We’ve gotten better all season,” senior defender Catherine Fraser said. “We’re communicating, talking to each other. I think we have it figured out. One more to go.”

Sophie Babo scored two goals and assisted on another as Orono routed Park Center 4-0 in the Class 1A semifinals.

Babo, a senior who has given a verbal commitment to Kentucky, didn’t play high school soccer as a junior, instead playing club soccer. She returned to Orono this fall set on trying to help her high school team win a state championship.

The Spartans (18-2-1) will play either Minneapolis Washburn or Hill-Murray in Thursday’s championship game.

Check back later for more on the game.