Rockhurst, Grain Valley set for Missouri high school state soccer semifinals

The Missouri big-class state soccer semifinal and championship matches are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis.

Rockhurst (Class 4) and Grain Valley (Class 3) will play in the semifinals Friday. Here is more information on each team:

Rockhurst

It wouldn’t be a Missouri high school soccer final four without the Hawklets.

Rockhurst, 25-4, is in the state semifinals for the 19th time in the last 23 seasons. It will match up against Columbia Rock Bridge, 18-6-2, at noon Friday in the Class 4 bracket.

The Hawklets start start only four seniors, but they are actually an experienced bunch, with nine players who saw time in last fall’s final four. The attack is led by forward Frank Barry and midfielder Gianni Catenacci. The defense, which has produced three shutouts in four playoff matches, is anchored by defenders Matthew Smith and Michael Rall and goalkeeper Nick Moyer.

Rockhurst has won six state championships since 1998.

Grain Valley

After reaching the Class 3 semifinals last season, the Eagles opened this year with four losses in their first eight matches. But they responded with 14 victories in 16 matches to make a second straight final four run.

In search of its first state championship, Grain Valley, 18-6, opens with Carthage, 22-4, at 4 p.m. Friday.

Alex Thiessen leads Grain Valley in points, recording 31 goals and 14 assists. Despite moving from the attack to the center of the midfield this season, Noah Espinosa has 19 goals.

This story was originally published November 10, 2016 at 5:55 PM with the headline "Rockhurst, Grain Valley set for Missouri high school state soccer semifinals."