Stifling defense powers Saxony Lutheran girls soccer team into final four

Any soccer goalkeeper would be justifiably proud of a 0.58 goals against average.

But mention that to Saxony Lutheran goalkeeper Raegan Wieser, and she's quick to deflect the attention.

"If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have these stats," the junior keeper said, noting the play of her defensive teammates in front of her. "My stats are also their stats. It's a team thing."

When coaches and players talk about the success of the Saxony soccer program, the word "team" surfaces a lot. But praising team success is not just lip service for the Crusaders (22-2), who face Barstow (15-2-2) in a Class 1 state semifinal Friday in Blue Springs, Missouri.

This team believes that unselfish play, whether on offense or defense, at midfield or near the goal, is the key to the Crusaders' march to their first soccer final four.

First-year Saxony coach Garrett Fritsche knows offense scores goals, and the Crusaders' 99 goals this season attest to their scoring prowess.

But he believes defense wins championships, and the mere 14 goals allowed by the Crusaders this season -- a season that includes a whopping 15 shutouts -- is as impressive as any offensive feat.

"The defense, their work ethic is unbelievable," Fritsche said. "They play hard, no matter what. They play aggressive. They do whatever it takes. They talk well and play hard the entire time. It's been fun to coach them."

The Crusaders gave up six goals total in their only two losses, to Jackson and St. Pius X. Jackson's season ended in a Class 4 sectional, while Pius is playing in the Class 2 final four.

"We had rough games against Pius and Jackson this year, and six out of the 14 goals scored against us were scored in those two games," Fritsche said. "Eight goals in the other [22] games is unbelievable."

Defense starts with a solid goaltender, and Wieser, in her first year as a full-time keeper, has proven to be one of the area's best. The 5-foot-10 junior has used her height to tip balls over the crossbar and her athleticism to quickly range to the right or left for sprawling saves.

"She's always making incredible saves," Saxony junior defender Logan Welker said. "It gives us confidence that she's back there. If all else fails, we've still got Raegan."

But Wieser has a lot of help. Three juniors -- Welker along with twins Logan and Tayla Meyr -- and freshman Ashley Fritsche form Saxony's first line of defense. Welker's speed belies her muscular frame, while the Meyr twins combine speed and savvy with an uncanny ability to know exactly what the other is thinking. Together they have helped Fritsche and another freshman, top substitute Taylor Fritsche, blend in and form a defensive wall that makes life easier for Wieser.

"We all have each other's back," Welker said. "We've been playing together for about three months now, and that's not counting the years before. And Ashley, she's a freshman, but she's really stepped up to the plate. But I always know if I make a mistake that my defenders are going to be behind me. And I hope I'm always there for them, too.

"We're all looking out for each other. Soccer's not an individual sport. It's a team sport, so we really have to help each other out."

Teams have tried different schemes in an effort to crack Saxony's defensive shell. Both Central and Sikeston played tough and physical, while teams like St. Vincent and Principia tried using speed and ball-handling finesse.

Nothing worked.

"There's been quite a few teams that have changed their normal formation, something we weren't used to," Tayla Meyr said. "But we've adapted to it really well."

Logan Meyr said it takes just as much effort mentally as it does physically to play defense.

"Mentally, as defenders, we just have to be constantly talking and have each other's back," she said. "You have to kind of know inside what each other's going to do."

And just as Wieser is quick to praise the defenders in front of her, the Saxony defenders credit their midfield teammates with helping do the "dirty work."

"The midfield has played amazing all year," Fritsche said. "I know there's been a lot of talk about the offense and the defense because that's where things usually happen, but the midfield is where you control the game. We've had so much production, offensively and defensively, out of our midfield. They have to run the full field all game, and that's a lot of work. But they take it to heart and they play hard the whole time."

Case in point: In the state quarterfinal against Principia, out of soccer-crazy St. Louis, Welker came up to defend against Panthers' midfielder Gretchen Friborg on one of Friborg's patented runs up the middle. Welker matched the speedy Friborg step for step and forced the Panthers' talented midfielder to give up the ball well before she reached the top of the penalty box. Tayla Meyr, closely marking her defender, was able to break up the pass, and Saxony midfielder Grace Mirly pounced on the free ball, quickly turning play the opposite way.

Such momentum swings are commonplace during a Saxony soccer match.

"We're fortunate to have speed in every defensive spot," Fritsche said. "That is something you always want out of a team, and we have it this year. They just don't give up. All four of them, they have ball skills, they have speed, they're aggressive. Win the ball in the air, they do what it takes."

Logan Meyr spent her first two seasons at Saxony at forward or in the midfield, so she's had to adapt to playing a new position. She's learned to respect the effort it takes to play defense.

"When I was a midfielder and a forward, I guess I didn't give the defense as much credit as I thought they got," she said. "They work their butts off constantly, and I guess I just didn't think about it. But now that I'm a defender, it changes my perspective completely. I realize how much work being a defensive player actually is, just putting everything on the line and defending your goal."

Ashley Fritsche, a first cousin to the head coach, feels fortunate to be learning from three seasoned veterans.

"They make me feel like I fit," she said. "They know what they're doing. I remember one time at practice, I was struggling with everything. I couldn't keep my mark. But Logan was like, 'You're doing good. I don't know why you think you're bad.' She was encouraging."

All the players have responded well to the influx of talented freshmen -- Saxony's roster consists of 11 juniors and seven freshmen -- to the point where the Crusaders, particularly on defense, are comfortable playing with each other.

"We can all read each other really well," Tayla Meyr said. "Communication is a thing we kind of struggle with across the field, but we're getting really good at it, and I think we've definitely improved a lot on defense. [Communication] has been really beneficial for our defense."

Communication, and a bond that goes beyond the playing field. Saxony's core group of juniors have played softball, volleyball, basketball and soccer together for three years. The basketball team -- which went to the final four last year and to the state quarterfinals this past season -- features nine players who take to the soccer fields each spring.

"We've had experiences in sports and athletics, so it's a lot easier when you're going through these situations with your friends and people that have been in these situations," Wieser said. "Our bond has helped us through this season. It's what's gotten us this far."