Principia Wins Its First Missouri State Soccer Championship—in Overtime
In a competitive final game played at Soccer Park in Fenton, Missouri, on a crisp November weekend, the Principia Panthers scored an overtime goal to net the School its first-ever Missouri State Championship in soccer.
Both goals in the 2–1 victory over St. Paul Lutheran (Concordia, MO) were scored by Principia forward Kaleb Keller, a junior. The victory was triply sweet for the Keller family—as dad Kipp Keller (US’84, C’91) is the team’s coach, and younger brother Kippy, a freshman, also plays on the team.
This year marked the second time the varsity soccer team won the District Championship, having first won that honor three years ago in 2012. Coach Keller and the team never formally discussed a District or State title as a team goal. “Our focus was on striving to improve day in and day out,” Coach Keller shared. “I believe the returning players’ experience the previous year (when they lost in District finals) strengthened their resolve.” Former Principia School students Evan Sperr (US’10) and Gabe Hoffman-Johnson worked as assistant coaches to Keller during practices.
The Panthers swept through the quarterfinals, defeating Saxony Lutheran 7–0. They had a tougher match against Sacred Heart, of Sedalia, Missouri. The game went into two overtimes, still tied at 1–1, after which Principia won on penalty kicks (5–4).
St. Paul Lutheran came into the championship game with a lofty 23–1 record and a striker who had racked up more than 40 goals. Principia was a bit shaky in the first half, especially after an early goal by the Saints. But in the second half, Principia stepped up their game, and Kaleb Keller tied the score off a pass from senior forward George Agai.
Principia played a terrific second half and first overtime, keeping consistent pressure on St. Paul Lutheran's defense. But St. Paul wasn't done either and created one good opportunity late in the game. Principia freshman goalie Aaron Stafford made a game-saving stop when he tipped a long 35-yard shot just clear of the crossbar with only minutes left in regulation play—with the sun in his eyes, no less! Senior Carson Hussey also had a game-saving tackle in the box in the first overtime. Outstanding defense by Principia, especially by senior Jose Lucero who shut down St. Paul's star attacker, helped prevent any additional goals by the Saints.
Play in the second overtime was slower, but just when it looked as though the game might be heading toward penalty kicks, Principia won the ball. Senior Cam Sellers sent a through-ball kick to Kaleb Keller, who took an outside angle and popped a solid shot to the opposite net for a beautiful finish. What’s more, the play was the epitome of composure. With this win, Kaleb finished the season as one of the top scorers in the St. Louis area, with 32 goals and 18 assists. And, later in the month, the Missouri Soccer Coaches Association named Kaleb the Player of the Year—and dad Kipp as Coach of the Year for private schools.
“The Principia soccer team’s achievements this season are incredible!” remarks Athletic Director Shawn Brown. “The work that the coaches and boys put in has set the bar for what competitive excellence looks like.” And he’s not just referring to the boys’ soccer skills. After the State Championship game, Brown received a phone call from the head referee, who praised Principia’s sportsmanship—from Coach Keller and the players. “Demonstrating outstanding character under pressure-filled situations is what education at Principia is all about,” Brown observes. And, he adds, the stands filled with students, faculty, and staff all dressed in blue “is an image I will never forget.”
Neither will the rest of us!