Gremlins to face WCC powerhouse St. Pius X

The Sacred Heart Gremlins are riding a wave of momentum entering today’s 6 p.m. state quarterfinal showdown against West Central Conference champion St. Pius X in Excelsior Springs.

Back in the state playoffs for the first time since 2003, the Gremlins dominated Kaysinger Conference play with a 5-0 record, winning the conference tournament crown and securing the regular season league title against the likes of soccer powerhouses Stover and Smithton.

Next up on the list, they’ll take a page from Smith-Cotton’s book and try to knock off the Warriors, who finished a game ahead of the Tigers in WCC play with an 8-1 record against Class 2 and 3 opponents.

“We’re just looking at it as another game,” Sacred Heart coach Carlos McField said. “We know they’re a good team. They have two dynamic goal scorers and to face the competition they’ve faced, they’re in the quarterfinals for a reason.”

Despite having roughly one-third of the enrollment of St. Pius X’s student body, Sacred Heart makes up for the disparity in numbers with versatility and balanced play.

Equipped with a talented back four — Brent Gerke, Bradley O’Conner, Jon Starke and Nate Bailey — the Gremlins have established the tone for their winning ways through shut-down defense.

The Gremlins’ defense has been a force, to say the least, garnering seven shutouts despite losing starting goalkeeper Jacob Harlan late in the season. In place of the injured, multi-sport 6-foot-3 star, Takeshi Ishizawa has started the past seven games and the defense hasn’t skipped a beat.

“We understand that it all starts with our defensive effort, and if we expect to win, our defense needs to clear the ball, keep opponents in front of them, avoid letdowns and step up to the challenge,” McField said. “We just need to continue to play smart and give our offense a chance to win.”

Led by sophomore forwards Lakin Kehde and Green Ridge transfer Chris Pottorff, the offense has preyed on opposing defenses all season. Kehde, who tied the school record for goals last season with 34, leads the Gremlins with 29 this year to go along with a team-high 17 assists. Pottorff has also found his niche in Sacred Heart’s up-tempo offense, contributing 26 goals and 12 assists.

“Lakin’s the key for our offense,” McField said. “He’s really stepped up this year and Chris has been a great addition. The two know how to score and they’re hard to stop.”

The duo joins a bevy of weapons up front that have provided the speed, communication and hustle to create scoring opportunities. Midfielders Alex Cline, Wes Register, Oscar Gonzalez and Jacob Orell have provided the perfect compliment to Kehde and Pottorff, playing a perfect dual role of backing up a dominant defense and setting up a run-and-gun style of offense.

Along with fixtures off the bench, they’ve all contributed to the scoring and assists columns, but more than anything, they’ve controlled the possession and made smart decisions.

“Our mids have performed well all season,” McField said. “They’ve passed the ball well and have been successful through positive teamwork. It helps that we’re quick and our guys are usually on the same page. ... We’re not a team that sits back and waits for opportunities. All of our guys are aggressive and that’s been our game plan.”

While it’s the first trip to state for a team with only three seniors, the Gremlins are far from star-struck by the atmosphere and implications surrounding their quarterfinal game.

“We won’t be satisfied by just making it here,” McField. We belong here and if we can play our game, we should be in good shape.”

STATE QUARTERFINAL
Sacred Heart vs. St. Pius X
6 p.m. Thursday at Excelsior Springs