By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The New Covenant Academy Warriors have reached the Class 1 final four again.
This time, the Warriors will actually get to experience the authentic event.
New Covenant Academy put up an impressive 3-0 victory over Smithton in the Class 1 quarterfinals on a frigid, windy afternoon at Cooper Sports Complex in Springfield.
Goals from Dalton Anderson (27’), Landon Cummings (56’) and Zane Winslow (58’) helped the Warriors punch their ticket to state.
“It’s great. My defense really came in clutch today. We all played great,” said Warriors sophomore and goalkeeper, Jackson O’Dell. “It’s nice to have a three-goal lead at the end of a big game like this. Makes it not so stressful.
“It’s going to be a fun week. We’re looking forward to next weekend.”
It’s the second time in three seasons that New Covenant Academy has made it this far.
But two years ago, with COVID-19 protocols in place, the Warriors played their semifinal match on their opponent’s (Southern Boone) home field. Not in Fenton.
No such issues this year. New Covenant Academy is eager to be in the state spotlight.
“We haven’t got to experience being in (Fenton) and playing at that soccer park,” said New Covenant Academy coach Eric Crain. “Being able to be part of that atmosphere and what MSHSAA does, how they make that moment feel special for all the players, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
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The Warriors (17-8-2 overall) will face Summit Christian Academy (17-6 overall) at noon on Friday, Nov. 18 at World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton. Summit beat Maryville 3-2 in its quarterfinal match.
With a win on Friday, New Covenant Academy would face the winner of Bishop DuBourg/St. Francis Borgia at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Class 1 state championship.
To make it here, the Warriors stacked their regular season schedule with local Class 3 and 4 schools, plus the best-of-the-best in Class 1 and 2.
“If we move the ball the way we can do, we always seem to have success,” Crain said. “We played a lot of good teams this year to prepare us for where we’re at now. You never want to get too far ahead of yourself – you always want to stay in the moment – but about halfway through this season we knew we could get pretty far in the playoffs.”
New Covenant Academy, which beat Smithton 5-0 on Sept. 30, asserted itself quickly in Saturday’s rematch.
Going against a northwest wind in the first half, the Warriors generated shots and scoring opportunities in the opening 20 minutes. Finally, Anderson’s goal in the 27th minute put the Warriors ahead for good.
New Covenant Academy added insurance goals from Cummings and Winslow in the second half.
“This team has been fun,” Crain said. “They get along and enjoy being around each other. I go out, before or after practice, and they’re out there playing with each other. The relationship they have shows on the field in the way they play and their style. They play for each other.”
Smithton (19-7 overall) was shutout for only the third time this season. The Warriors put much of their defense focus on Smithton captain and leading scorer Braedon Cairer.
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“You look up his stats, he scores a lot of goals,” Crain said. “We knew we had to keep him under control. Levi Nichols did a great job making sure he was always marked up.”
For New Covenant Academy, it was clean sheet No. 12 on the season.
O’Dell, who played in the field for New Covenant Academy last season, has thrived in his new role.
“He’s allowing us to play the ball back. We can really spread the field, find our gaps and keep possession,” Crain said. “He’s a major part in how we control the ball.”
Added O’Dell: “I definitely like goalie more. I’m better at it. I’ll probably stick with it.”
