Sr. Reid Harbach and sophomore Dallas Moses, Springfield Catholic
Editor’s Note – our guest today is Chris Miller. Coach Miller is President of the Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association and Head Coach of the Class 1 Southern Boone County Eagles (boys and girls). Most recently seen falling to Springfield Catholic in the Class 1 Quarterfinal that sends them to the Final 4. He has also coached the Jefferson City Lady Jays and Moberly Spartans.
PREVIEW
If history has any say in the fate of the four remaining class 1 soccer teams, the 2011 finals should be the year of the Irish, but can some teams riding postseason momentum crash the party?
Springfield Catholic, undefeated (27-0-1) and ranked #1 all season, steamrolls into Blue Springs with experience, motivation and the talent to claim its first boy’s state title. While the girls program has won back-to-back championships in 2010-11, the finals have not as been as kind to the boys in the past three years. In just the program’s second season in 2008, the Irish (with the current senior class as freshmen) dropped a 2-1 decision to eventual state champ Burroughs in the semifinals. Catholic would finish 3rd that year after knocking off St. Pius (KC) in the 3rd place game.
Catholic returned to the final four in 2009, only this time it was the Whitfield Warriors that ended the run with a 1-0 win in the finals. Last season, also ranked number one going in, the Irish were the clear favorites, but again fell to Whitfield 1-0 when the Warriors scored off a free kick and came up with an outstanding defensive effort to complete another championship season for Coach Bill Daues.
The 2011 season has been all Irish, however, and with no one left from district 4 (where the class 1 champ has resided the last 5 years), all signs point to a Catholic title. Despite heavy graduation loss, Catholic returned a solid core of players that has rarely been tested this year. Center midfielder Reid Harbach moved from outside back to center mid and joins with Dallas Moses as one of the stronger center mid combinations in the state. Forward Mitch Moncada and outside mid Evan Craig have done a majority of the scoring, but Catholic has shown that anyone can be dangerous as even center back Danny Renner and outside back Ryan Randell have scored key goals. The only blip so far has been a 1-1 tie against Class 3 Ft. Zumwalt West in the Gateway Invitational in early October. The Irish have scored 147 goals on the season (one off the state record set by Kearney in 2007 and CBC in 1969-70) and have allowed only nine. In fact, Catholic has only been in four games this season that were decided by one goal. The other 24 have all been won by three or more goals. It’s hard to argue with this team’s dominance so far.
How they got here: Cruised through the regular season and had an even easier time so far in the playoffs. An 11-0 rout of Thomas Jefferson in the opening round of the districts was followed by a methodical 4-0 win over rival Greenwood in the finals. The Irish rolled over Crocker 8-0 in the sectionals before getting by Southern Boone 3-0 in the quarterfinals. In a tense meeting of #1 and #2, Catholic got the go-ahead goal off a corner with 15 to play by Luke Straus and then added two late goals when the Eagles were pushed up looking for an equalizer. Catholic has had the advantage of playing on turf at Cooper throughout the entire run of the playoffs, which should make them right at home on Blue Springs’ artificial surface.
Scouting report/analysis: There is not much to pick at here. Catholic is strong and quick all over the field and can hurt you in so many ways from its 4-4-2 set. Moncada is explosive up front. Craig is elusive and quick on the sides and Moses and Reid Harbach find the open players (sophomore Reilly Harbach can’t be overlooked up front, as well) without effort. The backline has been solid all season behind Renner and Burke James. Goalkeeper James Straus has rarely been tested, but may have made the biggest play of the season when he snagged a header against Southern Boone just inches off the line early in the second half when it was 0-0. The Irish don’t sub much, but they also haven’t worn down, either. They have also been exceptionally good on restarts all year long. While Coach Tom Guinn is in his first year, the Irish players are experienced with four straight final four trips. This team has all the makings of a title winner.
Editors Note – the Catholic squad includes four players from the U16 State Championship team at Springfield Soccer. Mitch Moncada (F), Dallas Moses (MF), James Straus (GK) and Evan Craig (MF).
St. Pius X (Festus) (22-4-1) may be the youngest of the final four teams, but the Lancers have jelled after a mid-season slump and ride into Blue Springs with the confidence of a team that could make a championship run. Pius may be the “x factor” in the field’s four teams as the Lancers have not played anyone with a common opponent in the field. Forwards Jordan Tucker and Eli Surdyke have done a majority of the damage offensively as the team as set a school record with 103 goals and only 15 allowed. Sweeper Brennon Lauterwasser anchors the defense that has posted 14 shutouts. Pius coach Dan Bokern is no stranger to the final four, with trips in 1987, 1991, 2004 and 2005, but has never won the semifinal game, finishing third in each.
How they got here: Started 8-0, went through a mid-season slump and are now on another eight-game winning streak. Zipped through Life Academy 10-0 in opening round of playoffs, then blitzed Saxony-Lutheran 6-1 in the district championship. An emotional 2-1 win over Bayless in the sectionals led to a tough 1-0 victory over upstart Crossroads in the quarterfinals.
Scouting report/analysis: Two dynamic forwards and a solid defense that has given up one goal or less in 26 of the 27 games played this season could be a recipe for success. Coach Bokern started the program 27 years ago and may have his best chance to get to the finals with this squad. The Lancers play with a sweeper, which will keep teams in front of them. Goalkeeper Garrett McDowell has posted a 0.53 GAA and if the saying “defense wins championships” holds true, this could be the year in Festus.
Post-Dispatch – St. Pius X looks for first state soccer semifinal victory
Pembroke Hill (12-15) is certainly no stranger to the final four (this is trip number seven since 2002) and has a 2005 title under Coach Matt Pritchett to boot, but this year’s team certainly went about it in a different way than usual. A year after falling to Catholic in PK’s in an epic semifinal match en route to a third place finish, the Raiders bumped along in the regular season before getting on a hot streak that actually started with a pair of losses in the final week of the season to class 3 KC powers Lee’s Summit (4-1) and class 3 final four surprise Lee’s Summit West (2-1). Pembroke’s schedule may be the most difficult in class 1 (with the exception of Whitfield, perhaps) and has certainly prepared them for the post season. Games against Rockhurst, Lee’s Summit North and three Parkway schools have certainly built a toughness that will suit them well in the final four pressure cooker. The Raiders also boast 11 seniors and have been led all year by Jacob Fox and Will Cobb.
How they got here: An 8-15 regular season against a demanding schedule was a bit misleading as Pembroke wasn’t even the #1 pick in its own district. However, after a 11-1 romp over Alta Vista in the opener and a 10-0 win over #1 Cristo Rey in the finals, little argument could be made about the top team in district 15. The Raiders rolled over St. Pius X (KC) 5-0 in the sectionals and then ousted St. Paul Lutheran 1-0 in the quarterfinals on a second half PK.
Scouting report/analysis: The Raiders won’t be in awe of the final four and playing for the first time in the KC area will no doubt help, but will it be enough to get to the finals? A tricky first game against Pius could set up a rematch of a mid-season game between Catholic and Pembroke in the finals. Catholic defeated Pembroke Hill 3-0 in that game, using three goals off of restarts to gradually pull away. Coach Pritchett has been there before and that experience factor could become key in a tight game. There is a lot to like about Pembroke (“home field,” experience, confidence and momentum) in this final four. Can they avoid the letdowns on restarts and handle Pius’ athleticism and direct play will be the keys.
Fatima (15-12) is making its first appearance in a final four after several near misses in the past. The Comets actually boasted a better record last year (19-6), but fell to Kennedy 1-0 in the quarters. This year, Fatima limped along in a so-so regular season before finally getting healthy and surprising Kennedy in the rematch 2-1. Coach Kirby Keth, in his second stint at Fatima after a brief run at Rock Bridge, is in his 9th year overall and and first final four and has put together a solid defensive team that has benefited from the recent return of forward Matt Eisterhold. Despite missing a portion of the year with injuries, Eisterhold scored a big goal in the quarterfinal win against Kennedy and gives the Comets a presence up front after last year’s leading scorer, Shane Buscher (25 goals), has been shelved all year with hamstring problems. Kegan Bauer and Zack Pope have also stepped up recently for the Comets, whose only loss in the last three weeks was in PK’s to a very good Fulton team.
How they got here: Fatima won its district final (and only game) against Iberia 3-0. Another 3-0 win on the road against surprise district winner Canton led to the big home win against Kennedy. The Comets upgraded their schedule with games against Rock Bridge, Hickman and Borgia throughout the season and benefited from the most wide-open path to the final four.
Scouting report/analysis: Fatima seems to have the toughest draw with Catholic up first. The two met in Catholic’s first run to the final four in 2007 when the Irish pulled out a 1-0 win, but have not met since. The common opponents are Crocker and Southern Boone. Catholic rolled over Crocker 8-0, Fatima earned two victories (5-2 and 2-0) over the Lions. Catholic is fresh off a 3-0 win over Southern Boone while Fatima lost twice to the Eagles 4-0. There are several reasons to think that the Comets don’t have much of a chance, but soccer is often the great equalizer and the final four is often dotted with upsets and shockers. A Fatima win would be a huge upset, but GK Nevan Woehr is very solid and experienced and Fatima is riding the momentum of playoff success. It will take some solid defense and an opportunistic offense, but Fatima has proven to be able to do that, especially recently.
My take: Catholic is the overwhelming favorite in my opinion, but there is a reason why the games are played. The best semi will probably be Pembroke Hill and St. Pius at noon. Tough call…will it be Pembroke’s makeup and experience or Pius’ athleticism and youth? Whoever survives that will more than likely take on a focused Catholic team in the finals. Should be a great final four in the first outside of St. Louis. Enjoy!
Post-Dispatch – Class 1 semifinal capsules
KC Star – Five things to watch: Missouri boys state soccer
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