The soccer team heads into district play this Tuesday night to play against Parkway Central at Rockwood Summit High School. They enter the postseason as winners of their last four contests, as well as six of their last seven games.

The Wildcats were given the two-seed in a four team district, only trailing top-ranked large school in the area as voted on by STLhighschoolsports.com, the Rockwood Summit Falcons. How the Falcons are the top-ranked large school are in a district with a Westminster team that is ranked ninth in the same website’s small-school rankings boggles my mind. But adversity is nothing new to these men, who lost multiple key players midseason. They have found a way to rebound and get hot at the right time.

“We have momentum going in, but it’s going to be a tough battle, especially the further we advance in the tournament,” said Danny Sacco, senior captain.

In the semifinal matchup, the opponent is the Parkway Central Colts. The two teams played in a match early on in the season, and the Wildcats prevailed with a 2-1 victory. The players know the importance of what the playoffs bring.

“We need to go all out and compete harder than we ever have before. Everything is on the line, it could be the last game for us seniors and not a single person wants this to end,” said senior goalkeeper Pierce Dunne when asked about the upcoming district game.

The soccer team has come even closer as some players have had to step up and fill roles. One bond that has been present for over 15 years is between two defenders who share a last name and live right across the hall from one another: Mike and Jack, the Lemp brothers. Mike is in his senior season and has not taken the opportunity to play with his younger brother for granted.

“It is a big game for both of us, I have never had more fun playing soccer than when I have had the chance to play with Jack. It means so much to my whole family, and I don’t want this to end,” Mike said.

The team played to a 14-6 record in the regular season. “We had one of the best seasons in a while, but all of that means nothing now going into districts. We just need to play a good defensive game Tuesday night and find a way to score some goals to move on,” Mike added.

Should the team beat the Colts, they will likely play Rockwood Summit, who comes in with a 23-0-1 record. Their only non-win was a tie with perennial state championship contenders Francis Howell. They have some of the top players in the state and can beat teams in any way they choose. But once the two teams take the field to start the game, anything can happen.

A district championship will be on the line Thursday night with a chance of making a standout win for the Wildcat teams in the future to look up to. The Wildcats will be challenged, but if you want to be the state champion, what better way than to beat all the top teams? Ending other team’s seasons before they can end yours may be the best feeling in the world. Summit may have state dreams, but we are going to be their biggest nightmare.