One of the more successful high school soccer coaches in America, Trinity’s Vince Drake picked up win No. 700 in boys soccer earlier this season and passed the 1,000-win plateau with the girls team last spring.
Drake, who has been coaching soccer since 1969, has led 12 teams (11 boys and one girls) to state championships. But all of those came at St. Thomas Aquinas and Aquinas-Mercy.
“We’ve come close at Trinity -- three final fours for the boys and two for the girls -- but we haven’t quite been able to get over the hump,’’ he said. “It’d be nice to get another one, sure, but just getting to state is pretty special, too. We have a good club and we’re playing pretty well.
“But it’s still one game at a time.’’
The Titans, ranked fifth among STLhighschoolsports.com small schools, are 18-6 and will carry an 11-game winning streak into the Class 2 sectional Tuesday at Lutheran South (16-8-2). Game time is 7 p.m.
“At this point of the season, anybody you play is going to be pretty good,’’ Drake said. “I’ve heard that Lutheran South has some size and some good players and that they play on a narrow field. It’ll be a challenge, no question.
“But we’ve been playing well, and hopefully our guys will be up to it.''
Trinity has not lost since dropping a 3-1 decision to visiting Bayless on Oct. 3; over their last 11 games, the Titans have outscored opponents 46-1.
Senior Jeremiah Cooper (12 shutouts, 1.01 goals-against average) has been as steady as they come in goal. His backfield is anchored by centerbacks Eric Modde and Nick Nemerguth and wingbacks Mike Hardin and Matt Koeller.
“Matt stepped in when Dan Donovan broke his leg a couple of weeks ago and has done a great job,’’ Drake said. “Hardin was our big throw-in guy, but he broke his wrist three weeks ago; he’s still able to play, but losing the long throw has hurt us.’’
Seniors Tom Koerper (15 goals, 12 assists) and Jordan Verbanaz (3 goals, 14 assists) set the tone in the midfield, with Aaron Jezik (23 goals, 7 assists) and Mike Thiemet (17 goals, 7 assists) as the main guys up top.
South, which knocked off top-seeded Windsor 2-1 to take the District 3 title, is led offensively by Zach Jones (12 goals, 8 assists), Parker Van Nest (7 goals, 3 assists) and Alex Platipodis (5 goals, 6 assists). The Lancers, who finished second at state in 1985, 1988 and 1989, are making their first postseason appearance since 2006.
In other area sectional games scheduled for Tuesday....
CLASS 3
• DeSmet, 21-4-1 and ranked No. 1 among area large schools, travels to southeast Missouri to take on Jackson (16-5) at 6 p.m.
• Sixth-ranked Chaminade (18-6-3) hosts No. 10 Francis Howell (20-4) at 2:30 p.m.
• A pair of No. 2 districts seeded, Oakville (18-7-1) and Summit (22-5), will square off in a 7 p.m. match at Oakville. Summit, which started 3-4, has won its last 11 matches.
• Hazelwood West (20-7) travels to Francis Howell Central (17-7-3) for a 6 p.m. game.
CLASS 2
• Priory, the area’s top-ranked small school, carries a 23-0 record into a 4 p.m. game against visiting Borgia (16-5). The Rebels have outscored opponents 98-4.
• Seventh-ranked St. Dominic (15-9-1) hosts Moberly (20-6) in a game slated for 6 p.m.
CLASS 1
• A pair of area top-10 small schools, No. 6 St. Pius X (21-4-1) and No. 8 Bayless (21-4-1) meet in a 3 p.m. game at St. Pius in Festus. On Oct. 13, St. Pius won 2-1 at Bayless.
• Fourth-ranked John Burroughs (15-8) will play first-time district champion Crossroads (11-6) in a 2 p.m. match at Midwest Soccer Academy, at 5247 Fyler Ave.
• Kennedy (14-8-1) hosts O’Fallon Christian (17-6) at 6 p.m. Kennedy is vying for its third consecutive state trip -- the Celts placed third in 2009 and fourth a year ago -- while the Eagles are making their postseason debut.
