State preview: Althoff
By Curt Herron
If a team's only two losses have come against squads that have advanced to the state's Final Four, then it's a good bet that team belongs in the same company.
That's the story for Althoff (20-2-0) which lost 2-0 to Class 3A semifinalist O'Fallon on May 6 and then fell 4-0 to Class AA semifinalist Triad on May 15.
The only other teams that scored multiple goals against the Crusaders went far in the playoffs. After beating Marquette (Alton) 3-2 on May 13, Althoff met that opponent again in the supersectional and won by the same score. The school, in the St. Louis suburb of Belleville, beat Columbia 5-4 in a wild sectional final to advance to the final week of play.
Althoff meets Wheaton Academy on Friday at 11 a.m. at Hoffman Estates High School in the semifinals before playing Notre Dame (Quincy) or Timothy, preferably in the title game, the next day.
Coach Juergen Huettner's program has been in this position several times before during his 16 years at the school. He’s posted a 274-100-18 record.
Under his tutelage, the Crusaders have won four state trophies from a championship in 2010, a second place finish in 2008 and third place efforts in 2005 and 2018.
Because they are members of the South Seven Conference and play other Metro East programs, they take advantage of the opportunity to play Class AA and 3A opponents to prepare them for whatever they'll see this weekend.
Leading the Crusaders' attack is junior forward/midfielder Regan Moody (28 goals, 13 assists). Junior forward/midfielder Kylie Petroski (18, 12) and senior midfielders Tori Calvert (14, 16) and Julia O'Neill (14, 14) are major contributors. Sophomore defender/midfielder Emma Tell (7, 6) fills out the top quintet.
Althoff has used three goalkeepers. Freshmen Anna Brewer (.77 goals-against average) and Emilee Travnicek (.54) have seen the yeoman’s share of work with minutes in 13 matches apiece.
The Crusaders team captains are Natalie Cohn, Moody and O'Neill.
By Curt Herron
If a team's only two losses have come against squads that have advanced to the state's Final Four, then it's a good bet that team belongs in the same company.
That's the story for Althoff (20-2-0) which lost 2-0 to Class 3A semifinalist O'Fallon on May 6 and then fell 4-0 to Class AA semifinalist Triad on May 15.
The only other teams that scored multiple goals against the Crusaders went far in the playoffs. After beating Marquette (Alton) 3-2 on May 13, Althoff met that opponent again in the supersectional and won by the same score. The school, in the St. Louis suburb of Belleville, beat Columbia 5-4 in a wild sectional final to advance to the final week of play.
Althoff meets Wheaton Academy on Friday at 11 a.m. at Hoffman Estates High School in the semifinals before playing Notre Dame (Quincy) or Timothy, preferably in the title game, the next day.
Coach Juergen Huettner's program has been in this position several times before during his 16 years at the school. He’s posted a 274-100-18 record.
Under his tutelage, the Crusaders have won four state trophies from a championship in 2010, a second place finish in 2008 and third place efforts in 2005 and 2018.
Because they are members of the South Seven Conference and play other Metro East programs, they take advantage of the opportunity to play Class AA and 3A opponents to prepare them for whatever they'll see this weekend.
Leading the Crusaders' attack is junior forward/midfielder Regan Moody (28 goals, 13 assists). Junior forward/midfielder Kylie Petroski (18, 12) and senior midfielders Tori Calvert (14, 16) and Julia O'Neill (14, 14) are major contributors. Sophomore defender/midfielder Emma Tell (7, 6) fills out the top quintet.
Althoff has used three goalkeepers. Freshmen Anna Brewer (.77 goals-against average) and Emilee Travnicek (.54) have seen the yeoman’s share of work with minutes in 13 matches apiece.
The Crusaders team captains are Natalie Cohn, Moody and O'Neill.