Qualifying for the Final Four in state is a feat of its own and making it to the championship is the icing on the cake. Although the boys’ soccer team took second place in the state, they still have reason to celebrate. Through battling tough competition and developing teamwork, the Crusaders proved they belong on top.

With a 17-11-2 record, the boys’ soccer team was not focused on results throughout the season, rather, on developing teamwork, a strategy that took them all the way to the state championship.

“We are not result driven. We are performance driven. We never really placed a heavy emphasis on the result. It was how we performed as a whole, as a team,” said varsity coach Greg Koeller.

After giving a performance worthy of recognition, the boys defeated Ladue 2-1 in the quarterfinal match and claimed their spot in the Final Four at the World Wide Technology Soccer Park. A trip to the Final Four was not a new experience for 8-time state champion Coach Koeller.

“When the whole school is there, and all of their friends and family, and the whole school community backs it, it’s such a tremendous atmosphere and feeling of emotion. That’s what the players will remember for the rest of their lives,” said Coach Koeller.

The “party at the park” lived up to the hype. An early goal scored by senior and lead scorer Jack Stoll set the tone for  the semi-final match. Senior Will Faherty scored two goals and assisted on sophomore Collin Chrun’s late second-half goal. A 4-0 win over Grain Valley pushed the Crusaders straight to the championship.

With the sun shining low in the sky, the Class 3 championship between the St. Dominic Crusaders and the Webster Groves Statesmen was an epic battle. Webster Groves found the back of the net early in the first half, but senior Connor Flynn scored his second goal of the season to tie it up just before halftime. After the Statesmen took a 2-1 lead in the second half, senior Jack Stoll responded with a goal, keeping the Crusaders in the running for the state title. However, a goal scored with 39 seconds left in the game gave the first place title to Webster Groves. Despite the heartbreaking loss, Coach Koeller and his team, including sophomore goalkeeper Brennan Whitt, are proud of their season.

“I felt like it was great to make it that far, especially since no one thought we were going to make it that far. We proved them wrong,” said Whitt.

Congratulations to the boys soccer team for an incredible season and finishing second place in the state!