'22 Boys Postseason #6 (11-10)

Vol 2. Edition 6 (11-10–22)

We are back with a quick update from the final three days of district play, which included the remaining 29 district championships. Plenty of fantastic games to finish the week including some shockers, some elite teams looking to make a championship run and some new faces breaking through into the playoffs for either the first time or the first in a long time.

Some numbers from the week that was:
18 of the 32 district finals were decided by one goal
9 were decided by 2 goals
2 decided by 3 goals
2 decided by 4 goals
1 decided by 6 goals
10 district finals went into OT of some sort and several ended in penalties (hard to know exactly as the MSHSAA scoreboard reporters weren’t consistent in posting OT scores)
Champions by seeds: 1st (20), 2nd (9), 3rd (2) and 4th (1).
Class 2 had 5 #2 seeds claim titles, while Class 3 had 7 #1 seeds.

Class 1
Six of the #1 seeds advanced, with only #2 Borgia winning over #1 Tolton in D4 and #3 seed New Covenant capturing D6 over #1 Laquey. Those two upsets knocked out the top two MPR teams from the season, leaving new #1 Summit Christian as the tourney’s highest remaining team in its first ever playoffs. Here’s the rest: Borgia (4), New Covenant (6), Brentwood (8), Smithton (9), Bishop DuBourg (10), Maryville (16) and Duchesne (20). Maryville is the only remaining C1 final four team left from 2021 after it finished third in its first trip. Duchesne is the only team left with a championship to its name, winning titles in 1993 and 2004. Borgia (3), Bishop DuBourg (3) and Smithton (2) have been to final fours before, while New Covenant and Brentwood joins SCA as first-time participants.

Class 2
Only two #1 seeds advanced - Marshall and Excelsior Springs. Five #2 seeds pulled upsets in the finals, while Helias is the only #4 seed left in the entire tourney (all classes) after winning a competitive, but relatively weak (MPR-based) D4. #2 seed Orchard Farm outlasted overall #1 Westminster Christian in extras to win D3. Excelsior Springs is the only C2 Final Four squad from 2021 to still be playing. Here are the updated MPR rankings of the 8 quarterfinalists: Marshall (2), Orchard Farm (3), School of the Osage (4), Barstow (6), Excelsior Springs (7), Saxony Lutheran (9), Principia (11) and Helias (23). Only Barstow (2014 and 2018) and Principia (2015, 2019) have championships, but all four of those came at the Class 1 level. Marshall (3), Orchard Farm (1), Excelsior Springs (2), Saxony Lutheran (1) and Helias (6) all have been to final fours, but have never won one. Osage is making its first foray into the state playoffs.

Class 3
Not much drama after it was all said and done in C3, at least based on how the seeds went as 7 of the 8 districts produced first seed winners. Only Jefferson City as a 2 seed claimed a title in the upset-heavy D7 where six of the seven games were decided by one goal. The Jays put together three straight 1-0 wins, including a final over last year’s final four squad, Van Horn, a 4 seed.  #12 Cape Notre Dame had the biggest win of the tourney, a 6-0 thumping of rival Cape Central (9) that most figured would be much closer. Overall #1 Webster Groves survived a clash with #3 overall Rockwood Summit, while #2 overall Whitfield needed extra time to eliminate last year’s runner-up, Ladue. Whitfield is looking to pull off the never done “play in three straight finals in three different classes” trick. Glendale entered as the overall #4 and is the only team from last year’s final four to still have a chance to get back after Ft. Zumwalt East ousted two-time defending champ Ft. Zumwalt South. The updated MPR rankings: Webster Groves (1), Whitfield (2), Glendale (4), East KC (6), Ft. Zumwalt East (8), Cape Notre Dame (9), Jeff City (21) and Webb City (29). Cape Notre Dame has three titles in its history (2002, 2006, 2007), Webster Groves owns two (2014-15), Whitfield eight (last in 2021 C2), while Glendale (8) and Jeff City (2) have been to final fours before, but never won. East KC, Webb City and FZE are looking for their first trip to the finals.

Class 4
As expected, C4 is loaded with long-time soccer powers, but maybe not the ones we expected this year. Five 1 seeds won their district, with two seconds and a third also claiming local titles. Two Metro Catholic Conference showdowns highlighted the slate with overall #1 DeSmet losing to #7 CBC 1-0 and #2 Chaminade prevailing over #3 SLUH 3-2. #16 Lindbergh put an end to a possible 3-teams from the MCC reaching the quarters when it eliminated #6 Vianney 1-0. How competitive is C4? Six of the finals were decided by a goal with only #4 Rockhurst and #9 Liberty North enjoying two-goal wins. Updated C4 MPR for the quarterfinalists: Chaminade (1), Rockhurst (3), Kickapoo (4), CBC (6), Liberty North (8), Lindbergh (10), St. Dominic (12) and Rock Bridge (20). Rock Bridge’s ranking (and record) is a bit deceiving after having to forfeit 13 matches this year and controversy seems to follow them, but the Bruins found a way to take out host Blue Springs, a final four team last year, 1-0. Rockhurst is the defending champion and always a threat as their 26 final fours and eight titles attest. CBC owns 10 championships and 21 final fours (last in 2018), while St. Dominic has five titles (last in 2013) and Chaminade three (last in 2006). Lindbergh also has one, winning the 1994 tourney. Kickapoo (3) and Rock Bridge (5) have been to final fours and never won, while Liberty North searches for its first final four trip.