Westminster Christian Academy gained its first-ever boys soccer state championship within the Wildcats' first journey to the Remaining 4.
The Wildcats completed with a 21-5 document and proudly introduced house the Class 2 state championship trophy.
Westminster posted a 1-0 win over undefeated Logan-Rogersville (26-1) in a battle of the Wildcats.
Sophomore Krew Collison discovered senior Levi Weik with a by means of ball by means of the center of the sector, who then deftly went round a defender and despatched an unstoppable shot to attain the clinching objective within the 61st minute.
“It was a really surreal expertise to win state and on the identical time we had been very grateful to get the chance to do it,” Westminster coach Dan Legters mentioned. “We've had just a few different groups previously that had been alleged to make it to the Remaining 4 and didn't fairly make it. The group had by no means been there so we didn't know what to anticipate however we knew it was particular and lived as much as its billing.
“College was over, our dad and mom had been excited, the ambiance at Soccer Park is exclusive for a Remaining 4, and enjoying on the primary discipline for a state championship is one thing these guys will bear in mind for the remainder of their lives.”
Legters has been teaching at Westminster for 27 years, together with 23 on the varsity.
“It was a objective as a group to get to the Remaining 4,” Legters mentioned.
He mentioned he knew Westminster had the expertise to make it to state, however the group “couldn't get out of our district and in numerous instances it seemed like our district remaining could possibly be the state remaining.”
“We may additionally be the one group in our (Metro League) convention that (didn't) make it to the Remaining 4,” he mentioned. “However when you’ve applications like Burroughs and Priory within the convention and coaches like Alan Trzeckk and Joh Mohrmanne, you be taught from them what it takes to get there and also you root for them to go so far as they’ll, similar to this yr for us.”
The Wildcats gained the district title in 2009, however misplaced to St. Dominic within the state quarterfinals in extra time. St. Dominic gained state.
“The objective was to win the district finals to have an opportunity to make it to the Remaining 4, and we got here by means of this yr,” Legters mentioned.
This yr's squad misplaced eight seniors from the yr earlier than and the squad earlier than that misplaced 11 seniors.
“I knew I had some younger guys with me, however we had an excellent core that needed to step up from the earlier two years and have the expertise to take this group ahead,” Legters mentioned. “All year long, the group's expertise blended with the thrill of the youthful guys was the mixture that fueled us as we tried to do one thing that had by no means been accomplished in soccer at our college — get to the Remaining 4, the place something can occur.”
The Wildcats defeated Clayton to win the district championship.
“We had a date marked on our calendar in August and we knew the ultimate was Clayton versus WCA and whoever gained had an excellent likelihood to win the entire thing,” Legters mentioned.
Then got here a 2-0 quarter-final win over Affton. The Wildcats had been with out main scorer Caden Collison, who was injured enjoying for Westminster's soccer group the night time earlier than the quarterfinal sport.
“We believed we may win it however now we had the additional motivation to do one thing for Caden to choose him up after his devastating finish to the season and his brother Krew scored the decisive second objective late within the first half to offer us a objective.” the cushion we wanted after which we made our protection work to maintain the shutout,” Legters mentioned.
Within the Remaining 4, Legters mentioned the group was motivated to play for Caden.
“(They) made the shirts we wore in warmups to assist him,” Legters mentioned.
Westminster beat Excelsior Springs 3-0 within the semifinals.
“The ambiance within the faculty was incredible as a result of they sensed that we had been getting sizzling on the proper time. We had a faculty walkout the place college students lined the highway resulting in our bus (to the Remaining 4) … after which the varsity … set free early so numerous college students and workers may come to the sport,” Legters mentioned.
Dealing with undefeated Logan-Rogersville, Westminster didn't scare.
“We had been prepared to offer groups from throughout the state a style of soccer in St. Louis. We had been assured we may play with anybody, so the stage was set for us,” mentioned Legters. “Even enjoying undefeated Logan-Rogersville didn't dent our confidence.” We knew they performed 30 additional minutes the night time earlier than, they had been gassed, they went to the PK (penalty shootout), in order that they had been emotionally drained.”
Legters mentioned his Wildcats knew Logan-Rogersville's offense was no match for Westminster's protection. So there can be a necessity for the midfield to set the tone for the match.
“We managed the tempo, we managed the sport and after lacking just a few probabilities, we lastly bought the objective that managed the rating and the result of the sport,” Legters mentioned.
The victory celebration was particular.
“So many former gamers had been readily available to see it and I obtained texts and cellphone calls from many extra, some from virtually 20 years in the past, who had been so happy with our group and completely happy that we had been lastly capable of get that coveted state championship . Westminster and this system,” Legters mentioned. “It was a dream come true for us as a group and we’re grateful to have had the chance to soak up all of it.
