Late Goal Lifts Lutheran South To District Soccer Title

SOUTH CITY – The Lutheran South Lancers roller-coaster thrill ride through the MSHSAA Class 2 boys soccer playoffs continued in the District 3 championship game Friday evening at Bishop DuBourg High School in St. Louis.

The Lancers advanced to the championship on Tuesday, after finally through regulation play and two overtimes, with a goal in the eighth round of penalty kicks.

But they somehow topped that excitement on Friday, when senior Alex Platipodis fired in a brilliant free kick from about 22 yards out. With just about two minutes left in the game, this gave Lutheran South an incredible 2-1 district championship win over No. 1 seed Windsor (MO) High.

“What a great game between two great teams,” Lutheran South head coach Jerry Amsler said. “Both teams played well. We both had chances to win, and somehow it was our boys that pulled it out. It was unbelievable.”

Lutheran South led for most of the contest, thanks to a fantastic goal by junior leading scorer Zach Jones, who beat Windsor goalkeeper Steven Tanner on a one-on-one break-in through the box, early in the first half.

But the Owls managed to tie the game with just over five minutes left, on a goal by speedy scoring machine Tyler DePauli. That was about as deflating a play as any faced by Lutheran South all season.

DePauli almost tied the game late in the first half on a penalty kick with about seven minutes left, but South goalkeeper Aaron Hohenstein made one of the highlight reel plays of the season for the Lancers when he dove to his left and somehow knocked away DePauli’s blast to keep the score 1-0 South.

“What an unbelievable save,” Amsler said. “I didn’t even think they should’ve gotten the penalty on that play. But Aaron really stepped up for us right there. I’m just so proud of that young man, and my whole team really.”

Fortunately for the Lancers, Platipodis had an even more remarkable play in him, when he lined up a free kick just outside of the 18-yard box and blasted a rocket toward the net that Tanner couldn’t handle, for his sixth goal of the season, to give the Lancers the win.

“Unbelievable shot,” Amsler said. “He just lined it up, and let one go. Perfect spot, and the goalie couldn’t get it.”

Platipodis’ game-winning blast set off a wild celebration amongst the Lancer players and fans that continued once the final two minutes of play time crept off the clock. When time ran out, the game dissolved into a raucous scene of hugs and high-fives by all in black-and-gold.

“The guys are all excited, I’m excited too,” Amsler said. “What a great win for (our program).”

The victory, which gave South its first district championship since 2006, also earned the Lancers a berth in the MSHSAA Class 2 state playoffs, which begin on Tuesday with games all over Missouri in all three playing classifications.

South will be serving as the host team for its sectional round game on Tuesday, which will be against Trinity Catholic High, at Lancer Stadium, at a time that has yet to be determined.

“Trinity’s got a great team,” Amsler said. “It should be a great game. We’re certainly looking forward to it.”