Saxony Lutheran soccer using long layoff as advantage for final four contest

Saxony Lutheran soccer and state final four’s are beginning to feel like a tradition.

Once again, the Crusaders are back in the Class 1 final four after they defeated Maplewood-Richmond Heights 4-0 on May 16.

Now, Saxony Lutheran sets its sights on a final four matchup with Summit Christian Academy.

The catch? Kickoff isn’t until Friday, May 31, meaning the Crusaders will have had 15 days between games, but coach Chris Crawford said his team is choosing to look at it as a positive.

“You can look at it either way,” Crawford said. “We’re choosing to work extra hard and prepare. I think we’re doing a good job preparing and working hard so I think it’s going to be a good thing for us.”

Recent success down the stretch has amped up the intensity at Crusaders’ practices according to Crawford.

“Until recently, we really hadn’t played anywhere close to our potential,” Crawford said. “I think they figured out that if we have that edge and intensity at practice, it flows through to a game. They’ve been working really hard right now.”

The extra layoff has given Crawford and the Crusaders (13-6) extra time to scout and watch video for their 10 a.m. matchup on Friday, May 31, with Summit Christian Academy.

“They’re very disciplined tactically,” Crawford said. “They’re well-coached and they play a formation that you don’t see a lot in high school. They’re like any other team though, they have strengths and they have weaknesses.”

While all the scouting certainly helps, Crawford feels that isn’t the deciding factor.

“In any high school sport, whoever works harder is generally going to win,” Crawford said. “It helps to have the scouting reports and know what you’re up against, but you also have to show up. If you do all that stuff and you don’t do anything then it doesn’t really matter.”

Perhaps another advantage the Crusaders have is they’ve been here before.

Just a season ago the Crusaders made it to the final four where they fell to Villa Duchesne 4-0, but bounced back to win third-place in Class 1 by defeating Bishop LeBlond 2-1.

“Honestly I think our comfort comes from our preparation,” Crawford said. “This group is very upperclassmen driven and so when we’ve had games this season where we weren’t playing quite as well or we got beat when we didn’t think we should have, they bounced back right away.”

“I think our biggest advantage is that we’re comfortable being uncomfortable,” Crawford said. “That’s how we’re practicing. Nothing is easy right now and nothing is given to us.”

In terms of players key to success next weekend for the Crusaders, Crawford didn’t give any specific names.

“I would have a hard time singling out one player,” Crawford said. “We’ve got people that everyone knows their name and what they’re going to do but a lot of the dirty work that we do and a lot of our physicality comes from the people that aren’t the big names on the team that other teams are looking at. I think that makes us harder to prepare for. I would not be doing justice to my team by singling out a couple people because they do it as a unit.”