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As a goalkeeper, Northwest Cedar Hill senior Alex Drexler makes difficult decisions, from where to position his body to how aggressively to attack the ball.
But at age 15, he faced a decision that would impact the direction of his life.
After Drexler completed outstanding seasons for both his high school and club soccer teams, he was offered a spot as a goalkeeper in the St. Louis City academy system.
A member of the Major League Soccer developmental program known as MLS NEXT, St. Louis City Academy provides a linear path to a possible career in Major League Soccer. It requires year-round training and requires participants to discontinue playing club sports and high school sports, which for Drexler, included soccer, basketball and volleyball.
“It was definitely a huge, life-changing decision,” Drexler said.
Unlike many club teams, it costs no money to accept an offer to play in the MLS NEXT program.
But for Drexler, the price was too high.
“You’re on the road a lot, and I just wasn’t ready to give up the Friday night football games, prom, and all of that,” Drexler said.
He graciously declined the offer, and he has since become one of the most accomplished high school goalkeepers in the region.
The 6-foot-7 netminder earned the distinction of Missouri Class 4 goalkeeper of the year and a spot on the All-Central Region team as a junior. He enters his senior year as a preseason All-American.
Drexler is known for his outstanding shot-stopping ability, but his athletic gifts tell only part of the story.
“He’s got the physical attributes, but he’s also the smartest guy on the field,” Northwest coach Dave Willis said. “He’s involved in all the leadership groups at school, and every class he’s in is a better class because he’s in it. He’s just an elite individual in everything that he does.”
Willis, who also coaches Drexler on the Lions’ boys basketball team, would have supported either path his elite goalkeeper chose.
“I would not begrudge him at all if he took (the St. Louis City Academy offer), it’s a great opportunity, but I also think it’s pretty cool that he feels that sense of loyalty and pride in our school,” Willis said.
Drexler was spectacular in goal last season in helping Northwest Cedar Hill jump out to an 18-1 record. He notched 10 shutouts while saving a mind-bending 88.7 percent of the shots he faced, many in the acrobatic, highlight-reel category.
“My coaches have always told me, ‘If you can make two big saves a game, sometimes that’s all you need,’” Drexler said.
He made at least seven saves in 13 games as Northwest cruised to a regular season conference championship, but the Lions hit a skid at the worst time, dropping four of their final six games.
It set up a first-round matchup in the district tournament with a familiar foe and a team that has played a large role in Drexler’s story – the Jackson Indians.
As a freshman, Drexler was playing in only his fourth varsity game when he made the save that announced his arrival, denying a rocket from Jackson star forward Chalon Domian.
“(Domian) cut in from about the 20-yard line and just leathered one, and I made a beautiful, right hand tip over the crossbar. That was the moment when I kind of made my statement, ‘I’m a freshman, and I’m here.’”
Later that fall, Drexler made 12 saves against Jackson in the district title game, but the Indians scored in the 105th minute to defeat Northwest 1-0 in double overtime. Jackson went on to win the Class 4 state title.
Jackson defeated Northwest 1-0 in the district semifinals the following season despite a stellar 11-save performance from Drexler. Jackson finished that year as state runner-up.
And last season, Jackson upset the No. 2 seeded Lions 1-0 in another overtime heartbreaker during the district playoffs.
“To be so close three years in a row, especially last year as the two-seed, and to go out like that, it definitely hurt a lot,” Drexler said. “My biggest focus right now is winning something with the team. This is my fourth year, and that (district title) is the one piece missing. That would be huge to go out with a bang like that.”
To grasp that elusive title, Northwest will lean on Drexler’s leadership both on and off the field to help a young Lions’ squad grow into a cohesive unit.
“I have the freedom to command the whole team,” Drexler said. “From where I am (in goal) I can see everything. It’s like a puzzle in my head. Move this piece, communicate, there’s so many little things to focus on.”
Thwarting opponents’ set pieces is another signature aspect of Drexler’s game.
“If someone whips in a cross and I come out and get it, that sets the tone for the rest of the game,” Drexler said. “That’s something that I picked up over the years and an area where I’ve really tried to excel.”
Drexler also excels in the classroom as a straight-A student and has received interest from several universities to continue his soccer career. He also remains in good standing with the St. Louis City academy system and has trained with the U17 and U21 teams on occasion.
A second offer from St. Louis City Academy has not occurred, and even though his future path remains uncertain, Drexler is at peace with the decision he made to fully embrace his high school experience. He plans to cherish his senior year, including a second year participating in a new favorite hobby as a member of the Northwest golf team.
“I sometimes think about where I would be had I taken that (offer), but I don’t have regrets,” Drexler said. “I’ve enjoyed my time here and I’ve had success.”
With future success sure to follow.
