Saxony Lutheran soccer team advances to Class 1 championship with victory over Barstow

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. -- Members of the Saxony Lutheran girls soccer team walked off the field at Blue Springs High School following their Class 1 state semifinal against Barstow to high fives and congratulations from the Crusaders faithful.

Close behind was first year coach Garrett Fritsche with a smile stretched across his face.

Fritsche's joy stemmed from his squad's 3-0 defeat of the Knights in a fashion that he described as "the best we've played" and that advanced the Crusaders to the state championship game.

"It's a great group of girls," Fritsche said. "They're thrilled to be here, and I know they're not done."

It was the 18th consecutive win for Saxony, which improved to 23-2 on the season.

The Crusaders controlled the possession from the start of the game, but it took a free kick from quite a distance to put them on the board.

Junior defender Logan Welker took a free kick after junior forward Grace Mirly was knocked to the turf by a Barstow player. Welker lofted the ball from more than 40 yards out and it sailed just over goalie Jane Velghe to put the Crusaders up 1-0 in the 20th minute.

Saxony Lutheran junior Logan Welker scores the first goal of the game on a free kick during the first half of the Class 1 semifinal game against Barstow Friday, June 5, 2015, at Blue Springs High School near Kansas City. Sacony won 3-0. (Kit Doyle)

"When Logan hit that ball I had just told her to put it on," Fritsche said. "We hadn't tested their keeper yet, so I was just like, 'Oh, just put it on goal.' Usually you'll get a rebound or something. That was awesome. Right under the bar. Great shot. You don't see that often."

It was just the second goal of the season for Welker, who serves as Saxony's last line of defense before junior goalie Raegan Wieser.

"We were all standing there ready to run onto it and then it goes right over the goalie's head and we're like, 'What is she? A football player? Is she a kicker for a football team?'" junior midfielder Brianna Mueller said with a laugh.

Mueller gave Saxony a two-goal lead less than four minutes later. She took a free kick about 35 yards from the goal and after it bounced around inside the box freshman midfielder Laurel Mueller played it back to Brianna Mueller, who knocked it past Velghe to make it 2-0.

"Laurel Mueller got the ball and just laid it off perfectly," Brianna Mueller said of her sister. "I was kind of off balance but I shot it, fell on the ground and it went right over the goalie's head, so hey, it works."

Saxony Lutheran junior Brianna Mueller (15), right, scores through a crowd of Barstow defenders during the first half of the Class 1 semifinal game Friday, June 5, 2015, at Blue Springs High School near Kansas City. Saxony won 3-0. (Kit Doyle)

Saxony had six shots in the first half while the Knights had just two shots, including one on goal that was hit directly to Wieser for an easy save.

"We talked at half that we were off a little bit on our marks, so we weren't getting to push on offense like we wanted to during the first half like we kind of were planning on," Fritsche said. "Those two goals that we got on those kicks were awesome and then they just kept working. We had a lot of chances, but it only takes one."

The Crusaders kept the pressure on the Knights' defense throughout the second half, working the ball inside the box before spreading the field back out. The tactic finally worked in the 68th minute when junior Taylor Fritsche got to the right endline and played a low ball out in front of the goal. Laurel Mueller played it to the left of Velghe and into the back of the net to put Saxony up 3-0 with 11:19 remaining.

Saxony Lutheran junior Tess Daniel, right, fights for a loose ball with Barstow's Lauren Fox (9) during the Class 1 semifinal game Friday, June 5, 2015, at Blue Springs High School near Kansas City. Saxony won 3-0. (Kit Doyle)

"They are strong, they are physical and they are skilled," Barstow coach Scott Huppe said. "When they won the 50-50 balls, that was the biggest difference on their attacks. We made mistakes on the two goals, but they kept pressing."

Saxony recorded its 15th shutout of the season, holding the Knights to four shots. Wieser had two saves in the contest. The Crusaders had 15 shots and 10 were on goal.

"Just like I said before our defense is all about working together and we always have each other's backs," Welker said. "Today there was a couple pretty good players up top and we had to mark them tight and anytime we got beat or anybody on the field got beat there was always somebody there right behind you. I think that's what makes our defense so strong is we always know to be there for each other."

Saxony will play Father Tolton at 2 p.m. Saturday at Blue Springs High School for the state title.

"Finish what they started," Fritsche said of his message to his team. "Their goal was to get here -- they're here. And they wanted to win it. They've been dreaming about it all season, they've just got to finish it. Eighty more minutes and it could be theirs."