Saxony soccer earns five All-State honors

Saxony Lutheran boys soccer was well-represented as the highest honors in Missouri were recently handed out. The Crusaders garnered five Class 2 All-State honors after earning their best finish in school history this fall.
“It really reflects on the hard work that the boys have put in while they have been here,” Saxony Lutheran coach Chris Crawford said. “It speaks volumes to the level that the boys have gone to make themselves better, and in turn the program.”
The honors included two first team honors and no one embodies Crawford’s statement better than senior goalkeeper Aaron Zoellner.
He was instrumental in the net for the Crusaders this season and burned brightest in the postseason with three shutouts in the district tournament to go along with winning two penalty kick shootouts in the Class 2, District 1 tournament over Perryville and Affton. He secured 10 shutouts this season and had 190 saves.
“When you look at the numbers this season, there were a couple of games in there that I think were outliers where we didn’t help ourselves defensively and there was nothing he could really do about it,” Crawford said. “In the postseason, I’m not sure there was a more dominant performance across the state with three shutouts in five games.”
Max Richey also earned a spot on the first team and was the “engine” behind the Saxony offense. He produced 11 goals and 14 assists.
“He helped control the middle of the field and in turn the game for us,” Crawford said. “He was able to do a lot of things for us and we had to play him at all three levels. He’s an incredible player and he never stops.”

Senior Jace Boland was named second team All-State, after being the primary goal scorer for the Crusaders this past year. He led the team with 22 goals and 11 assists.
“He scored a ton of goals for us and people see his stats and think he is just a goal scorer, but he did play in the midfield for us a lot this year,” Crawford said. “He was a force in our midfield and was a threat on top if we needed him.”
Luke Eggemeyer was named honorable mention in the midfield.
He had just one goal and two assists, but was a big factor in the Crusaders’ season. He missed the Class 2 quarterfinal game against Principia and the Final Four with a broken foot. He suffered in the district title game.
“He did a lot of work that people don’t notice next to Max in the midfield,” Crawford said. “It was a nod to him and the work he put in to be honored because he did miss much of our run to the Final Four. Having him out did hurt us a little bit and if he was there I think we could have done better.”
Crawford was named the Class 2 Private School Coach of the Year. He gave much of the credit to his players for the honor.
“It’s nice to be honored by that, but it’s a reflection on the players and coaches and the work they did,” Crawford said.
Eggemeyer is the the only one of the four that will return to a Saxony squad that finished 15-11 and fourth in Class 2.