KC’s East Bears, Rockhurst & Park Hill South to vie for state high school soccer titles
Ninety-plus minutes was an insufficient amount of time to decide a winner in Friday’s first Missouri Class 3 boys high school soccer semifinal, so the East Bears and Rockwood Summit went to overtime.
That’s when the Bears from Kansas City finally broke through, getting a goal from senior striker Jackson Twizerimana with 6 minutes, 11 seconds remaining in the extra period to win and advance to Saturday’s state championship final at the World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton.
GOOOAAAALLLLLL!!!!
Holy cow! Your @KCPS_East Bears are heading to the State Championship Game!!
With less than 7 minutes left in overtime, Jackson Twizerimana poked one in on the goalkeeper’s left side for the sole goal of the game.
Wowsers!!!! What a game! pic.twitter.com/wg0Xgvn4To— KCPS (@kcpublicschools) November 17, 2023
East will play Ladue Horton Watkins for the state title on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
East beat Springfield Glendale in last year’s state semifinals before losing a 3-2 heartbreaker to Webster Groves in the match for the championship.
This year, Twizerimana led East with a robust 23 goals and five assists during the regular season.
Here’s a rundown of other KC-area highlights on Friday in Fenton:
Class 4
Both Class 4 big-school semifinals were Kansas City-vs.-St. Louis affairs.
Park Hill South won the first in a shutout, blanking Lindbergh 2-0 at World Wide Technology Soccer Park.
Forwards Ty Stone and Quinlan McNellis scored to send the Panthers on to the championship finale.
GOAL!!!! 2-0 in the 33 minute pic.twitter.com/QZmVXp7NNV
— Park Hill South H.S. (@ParkHillSouthHS) November 17, 2023
Unbeaten Rockhurst gave John Burroughs a thorough thumping in the semifinal that followed, a 6-0 shutout of John Burroughs (18-6).
Asende Welongo led the way for the Hawklets (23-0) with a state-semifinal hat trick. He scored two goals in the first half and his third in the second.
Teddy Franke, Uchan Kohring and Liam VerMeer also scored for the victors.
Saturday’s all-KC Class 4 championship match between Park Hill South and Rockhurst is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in Fenton.
Getting underway for our semifinal soccer game vs John Burroughs in Fenton, MO. Let’s Go Rock! pic.twitter.com/MxrTAuZg2Z
— Rockhurst HS Athletics (@GoHawklets) November 18, 2023
Class 2
Excelsior Springs fell 3-0 to Westminster Christian in the Class 2 semifinals.
The Tigers will play Orchard Farm for third place on Saturday.
Missouri boys soccer state championships
In Fenton; at World Wide Technology Soccer Park.
CLASS 4
Friday’s semifinals
Park Hill South 2, Lindbergh 0
Rockhurst 6, John Burroughs 0
Saturday
Third-place game: Lindbergh vs. John Burroughs, 5 p.m.
Championship: Park Hill South vs. Rockhurst, 7 p.m.
CLASS 3
Friday’s semifinals
East 1, Rockwood Summit 0, OT
Ladue Horton Watkins 2, Springfield Catholic 0
Saturday
Third-place game: Rockwood vs. Springfield Catholic, noon
Championship: East vs. Ladue Horton Watkins, 1:30 p.m.
CLASS 2
Friday’s semifinals
Westminster Christian 3, Excelsior Springs 0
Logan-Rogersville 1, Orchard Farm 0
Saturday
Third-place game: Excelsior Springs vs. Orchard Farm, 2:30 p.m.
Championship: Westminster Christian vs. Logan-Rogersville, 4 p.m.
CLASS 1
Friday’s semifinals
Bishop DuBourg 1, Maryville 0
Duchesne 7, Laquey 1
Saturday
Third-place game: Maryville vs. Laquey, 10 a.m.
Championship: Bishop DuBourg vs. Duchesne, 11 a.m.
