As the varsity girl’s soccer regular season is coming to an end, the number four team in the Midwest is gearing up for districts and looking to secure their place in the final four in Kansas City.

The Crusaders have had an impressive season with a 20-2-1 record, knocking off teams such as last season’s Class 3 state champion Rockwood Summit and longtime rival Incarnate Word Academy.

The season has been filled with lots of nail-biting games, with freshman forward Jess Larson leading the St. Louis area in game winning goals, with nine on the season.

“This year has been a really cool start to my high school soccer experience, coming into a team where every person has the will to win. We are all working towards the same goal—winning state,” Larson said.

The 2019 team is made up of a combination of talented underclassmen and experienced upperclassman. Junior midfielder Grace Osvath is hopeful for this season’s group of girls.

“Each individual player brings something special and different to the team everyday… Everyone pushes each other—there’s a constant intensity and energy brought to games and practices,” Osvath said.

Coach Greg Koeller has had lots of experience leading teams to state championships. Since he took over as boys’ head coach in 2001 and girls’ head coach in 2006, he’s had eight teams bring home state champion rings.

“The 2019 season has been an exhilarating campaign, blessed with a team brimmed with technical skill and optimism who accept the necessary risks in displaying their own blend of entertaining, attacking soccer,” Coach Koeller said.

The first opponent the top-seeded Crusaders face is fourth-seeded Fort Zumwalt East. The game at East is Tuesday, May 14 at 5:00 p.m. The team isn’t just looking past them, though. The Crusaders’ mentality this season has been taking it one game at a time while still keeping their vision on the bigger picture of winning state, and they are not going to stray from it now.

“In the process, it all comes down to our own belief, our mentality and ultimately our character. This is what is special with this team; they have exhibited all three crucial elements,” Coach Koeller said.

Make sure to come watch this exciting, special Crusader team in action this postseason!