Nov. 5 Update
by Admin on 11/05/21
Nov. 5 Postseason Update
Hard to argue with district soccer week not being the best week of the season. Local rivalries, epic battles, new champions and the emotions built up from something that started (officially, anyway) over three months ago all lead to a lot of fun with the sport. Next Saturday’s Quarterfinal Day arguably has bigger stakes, but the familiarity of most of the teams playing in district finals gives many of the games an extra special edge. Thursday action saw 19 finals - all involving a number one seed, but only 12 survived. Crazy, but that’s what makes soccer considerably more unpredictable than most other sports and obviously adds to the postseason intrigue of our game.
Before we get into the recaps, here are some numbers first…
After Saturday, there will have been 189 playoff games (updated from the incorrect 190 yesterday).
So far, District seedings have been accurate 154 out of 187 (82.4%). MPR (Missouri Power Rankings) has been accurate 150 out of 187 (80.2%). Teams with a +.500 MPR score have won 181 of the 187 matches so far, with both finals left to play (tonight and tomorrow) have scores above that .500 threshold. (Southern Boone is +.560 over Christian and SLUH is +1.03 over John Burroughs.) In other words, teams who have a stronger than .500 MPR score over the opponent have won 96.7% of the time.
Note: this will be the last blog of the week, but we hope to fill up next week’s lack of games with some material in preparation for the quarters next Saturday and some other areas that impact MO high school soccer.
Thursday recap:
Class 1
The smaller schools were mostly status quo, with four of the five #1 seeds winning comfortably. The big shocker of the night was #3 Fair Grove’s (14) elimination of #1 College Heights (8), 4-0 at College Heights. Fair Grove advances for the second time in school history (2018) and one year after winning only 5 games. Overall #1 Lutheran St. Charles had an easy go of it in Canton for the week, winning both games by a combined 12-0 margin and advance for a second straight year, third overall. Smithton (2) also advanced, but with a tight 2-0 win over Knob Noster. It was the third win over Knob Noster this year. Knob Noster is in its 6th year and equalled its best season with 8 wins, while Smithton remains the state’s only undefeated team (23-0) and makes the playoffs for the second consecutive year. St. Pius (Festus) (3) also rolled to its 14th state playoff appearance but first since 2017 with a 3-0 win over DuBourg (11). In a mild upset based on MPR, but not by seeding, Brentwood (10) topped Gateway Sciences (7) 4-2 to make its second appearance in the playoffs and first since 2017.
Class 2
Only three matches on the slate last night, but two of them were classics. In District 7, #1 Harrisonville (21) outlasted #2 Barstow (26) 4-3 in 2OT in a battle of teams under .500 for the season. Anytime seven goals and a golden goal final happens, there is no other choice but to have been entertained (and likely drained) if you got to see this one. Coach Dan Coleman’s Wildcats squad survived back to back OT games as the #1 seed and will play in the playoffs for the 4th time in five years, 8th overall. A tough end for Barstow. In District 2, #2 St. Mary’s (11) edged #1 Affton (7) 2-1 in OT. St. Mary’s is one of the more storied programs in the state and will be making its 34th appearance and back to back after a four year hiatus. #1 Excelsior Springs (9) had no problem with #2 Marshall (10) in its 4-0 final win. Excelsior Springs returns to the playoffs for the third time and one year removed from winning only 5 times last year.
Fun fact about all three of these games: none of the teams had played each other in the regular season prior to the finals and despite being in the same district.
Class 3
Five finals last night and all were close, none were closer than in District 2, where #1 Ladue (6) and #2 Webster Groves (15) played an epic final. Tied 1-1 after regulation, the game went to penalties. Needing a stop on the 5th kick to extend the match, WG’s GK made a huge save, but Ladue’s GK answered with a stop on kick #6 to set up Ladue’s game-winner from a freshman into the lower right corner that set off a wild celebration. It’s worth the look to see the highlights on YouTube (Gateway Sports Venue). Ladue had its run of eight straight playoffs snapped last year, but are back for appearance #10.
In the District 1 final, #2 Mehlville (3) opened a 2-0 halftime lead on its home pitch and held on for a 2-1 win over #1 Cape Notre Dame (5). Mehlville advances for the 12th time in history, but first since 2017.
#1 overall and defending state champ Ft. Zumwalt South broke the recent spell of underdog city rivals winning by slipping past a determined Ft. Zumwalt East (20) squad 2-1. South wins its 8th consecutive district and tops FZE for the third time this season, with each result getting closer than the opening 4-0 win.
In District 6 at Bolivar #1 Neosho (8) broke loose from a 1-1 tie with the host team Bolivar (19) to get a 3-1 championship win. The Wildcats advance for the 5th consecutive year and 7th overall.
The District 7 match in Warrensburg featured two Independence teams separated by just over three miles. #2 Van Horn (21) upset #1 William Chrisman (10) 2-1 to claim its 4th straight playoff appearance and fifth overall. The win flipped the score from the teams’ earlier match.
Class 4
Three of the #1 seeds fell last night in Class 4. It’s hard to rank the bigger upset, but the two that stand out on night took out two of the arguably best programs in the state. #2 Marquette (6) stunned #1 CBC (4) 2-1 with two late second half goals on a night where Coach Chris Kenny also was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame (Congrats, CK!). Likely tough to come down from that night! Marquette reaches the playoffs for the 7th time.
#2 Liberty (Wentzville) (13)’s 2-1 win over #1 St. Dominic (11) wasn’t much of an upset based on MPR (.03 separated the two), but it was the first ever win for Liberty in its 8-year history over perennial nationally ranked Crusaders and certainly qualifies as a milestone night for Coach Tony Luedecke and his squad. This marks playoff #2 for the Eagles.
In District 8, #2 Park Hill (23) edged #1 Liberty (7) 1-0 to advance. Liberty had beat PH twice in the regular season, but it’s always tough to beat a similar team three times. Park Hill returns to the playoffs for the 14th time and after a third place finish in 2020.
District 1 #1 Jackson (19) had to travel to Vianney (36) for its 2-1 win. Last year’s surprise Class 4 champs no doubt gained some experience and confidence from that run as they look to defend.
District 5 #1 Kickapoo (10) ended a great run from #6 Carthage (30) 3-0. The Chiefs win their 20th game and make their 14th playoff appearance, but first since 2017. Carthage had topped the 2 and 3 seed as hosts.
Overall #1 Rockhurst eliminated #3 Lee’s Summit West (8) 3-1 to advance for the 40th time, the most by any program in the state. Rockhurst is looking for its 8th title and has been a postseason participant every year since 1980 with the exception of 1983 and 2011 - an incredible feat.
Two matches left to be played…
Tonight
Class 2, District 4 in Winfield where #1 Southern Boone (12) takes on #3 Christian (27) in an early 3:00 start. SBC has a .560 MPR advantage.
Saturday
Class 4
#1 SLUH (2) hosts #3 John Burroughs (21) at 1:00. The Bombers will look to pull off another stunner after getting by #3 overall Chaminade in the semis on a PK and a solid defense. SLUH has a +1.03 MPR advantage.