Rockhurst set to begin quest for second straight Missouri state soccer title

A prestigious St. Louis soccer tournament has been the source of anguish for the Rockhurst team for two straight seasons. The Hawklets have lost four of five matches in the Gateway Classic over the past two years — and they’ve been shut out three times.

But as unpleasant as the trips across the state have been, they’ve also proved quite beneficial.

In 2013, Rockhurst responded to its disappointing tournament showing with 15 straight wins and the sixth Missouri state championship in program history.

The Hawklets’ path this fall is starting to look awfully similar. They will take a 10-match winning streak into a Class 4 semifinal matchup with Chaminade at 4 p.m. Friday at Blue Springs South.

“This team had several players who had experience from 2013, and (they) knew what it took to make a successful run in the playoffs,” Rockhurst coach Chris Lawson said. “So it was all a matter of time when they would individually and collectively bring it consistently to practice and in games.”

Rockhurst, 21-6, is making its 17th appearance in the state tournament over the past 21 seasons.

The state-tournament appearance for three other local teams — Lee’s Summit (Class 4), St. Pius X (Class 2) and Barstow (Class 1) — isn’t quite so plentiful. In fact, all three programs are searching for the first state title in their respective school’s history.

When Lee’s Summit, 19-3, faces Francis Howell Central in a Class 4 semifinal at 6 p.m. Friday, it will mark the Tigers’ first ever game in the state tournament. Aaron LaPaz leads the team with 22 goals this season.

“They started talking about this run after the sectional (loss) last season,” Lee’s Summit coach David Wiebenga said. “They knew it was up to them.”

In its second straight trip to the Final Four, St. Pius X, 20-3-1, will face Perryville at 4 p.m. Friday in a Class 2 match. Forward Trevor Cissell leads the team with 46 goals. Junior keeper Austin Mendez has 10 shutouts this season.

Barstow, 12-9, has reached the state tournament for the first time since 1991, and it will play Crossroads at noon Friday in a Class 1 match. Barstow has won nine of its past 11 matches after a 3-7 start.

“There was never a panic with this team,” Barstow coach Scott Huppe said. “We know we can come back at any time.”

This story was originally published November 13, 2014 at 7:48 PM with the headline "Rockhurst set to begin quest for second straight Missouri state soccer title."