2024 Boys Postseason #5 Class 3 and 4 Semi recap and Preview
by Admin on 11/22/24
November 23 - The Finals
Location: Lindenwood University, Hunter Stadium, 209 S. Kingshighway St. Charles, MO
Digital Tickets (only tickets available): https://www.mshsaa.org/Tickets.aspx
TV: https://www.mshsaa.tv/
NOTE: Due to the quick turnaround we weren’t able to update the MPR advantages for Saturday’s final.
Congratulations to first-time champions Clayton (C2) and Valley Park (C1) on dominant seasons that both ended up with quality performances in their respective championship games Thursday.
#1 Valley Park (25-3) wasted little time, jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead over #3 Missouri Military Academy within the game’s opening 15 minutes. The Hawks’ Will Geary continued his spectacular career and season with three goals and an assist as Valley Park led 4-0 at half. MMA tightened things up the second half but couldn’t make a charge, finishing the Colonels season at 17-5.
In Class 2, the battle of 1-2 held the hype for a half, with both #1 Clayton and #2 St. Michael the Archangel knotted up in a scoreless tie, but the Greyhounds broke the deadlock just five minutes into the second half and then ended the suspense with two goals only a few minutes apart midway through the half to win 3-0. Clayton finishes 20-4, while St. Michael’s best season ends with a runner-up trophy and a 20-5 mark.
Friday’s matches didn’t disappoint, either.
The C3 second game was worth every bit the price of admission as #7 Van Horn took #1 Ladue all the way into penalties before Ladue advanced 1-0 (5-3) in their fifth penalty shootout of the year and ninth OT game. This one was about as even as you could get, with both teams taking charge for stretches before the other countered. It was Van Horn’s fourth penalty shootout of the year - the Falcons won the first two and lost the last two. Ladue is now 2-3 in shootouts and advances to its third final in the past four years - finishing second in the previous two. Ladue is hoping to win its first title.
The Rams will play #2 Vianney in the finals. The Griffins got two goals from Shane Farrow, including a determined effort through a maze of St. Francis Borgia attackers to break the tie in the 27th minute. Vianney turned on the heat the second half, outshooting the #16 Knights 13-2 in the half, while adding Farrow’s second goal just seven minutes in. The Griffins (16-6-4) seek their seventh title and first since 1992. Vianney owns a 4-1 victory over Ladue Oct. 10. Borgia’s (17-8) miraculous run through the C3 playoffs as a small school ends without a title to match their 2022 C1 team.
Van Horn (20-5) vs. St. Francis Borgia (17-8) 10 AM
#1 Ladue (22-6) vs. #2 Vianney (16-6-4)
In Class 4 there will be a new king. Three-time champ and #8 nationally Rockhurst’s quest for an unprecedented four-peat ended with #3 DeSmet’s convincing 3-1 win Friday. Spartan Jack Saladin’s clinical finish in the 17th minute sent DeSmet on its way and Braden Klein’s second assist in the 35th minute to KJ Tyehimba provided some breathing room. Landon Weber’s penalty kick in the 54th all but sealed the deal. Rockhurst (20-2) got one back late, but it wasn’t enough to send the Hawklets into their 16th final. The loss also ends Rockhurst’s playoff winning streak at 22 matches. DeSmet (21-3-1) reaches its 11th final and looks for its 7th championship and first since 2019.
The Spartans take on fellow MCC member #8 SLUH (17-6-3) in the finals Saturday. The Jr. Billikens used a late first half goal and a stout defense to hold off #15 Liberty North 1-0 in Friday’s nightcap. SLUH seeks its fourth title and first since 2003 in its 10th championship. DeSmet has already handled SLUH twice this season, winning 2-0 Sept. 21 and 4-0 Oct. 22, with the inevitable (by calendar) third matchup Nov. 23 being the most important. Liberty North (17-9) will play Rockhurst for third place Saturday to conclude its first final four appearance.
Liberty North (17-9) vs. Rockhurst (20-2) 12:30 PM
#3 DeSmet (21-3-1) vs. #8 SLUH (17-6-3) 6 PM
