The De Smet soccer team has faced its share of weather delays and game postponements during the first half of the season.
But that has not impacted the amount of soccer the Spartans have played.
De Smet has been tied at the end of regulation time in three of their last four games, including a marathon, 11-round penalty kick session against Vianney on Sept. 28.
Senior goalkeeper Kyle Crosswhite arrived to Vianney’s campus just after 5 p.m. and departed just after 10 p.m. The five hours in between were a roller coaster of emotion, but Crosswhite remained rock steady throughout.
“Thrilling game,” Crosswhite said.
Trailing 8-7 in penalty kicks in round 10, Crosswhite himself walked to the penalty spot to keep the Spartans’ hopes alive.
“When I stepped up for that penalty kick, I don’t know if I had enough time to be nervous,” Crosswhite said. “I didn’t necessarily bury it. I’ll be honest, It squeaked in, but right after it went in, I had a sigh of relief that I could go back into the net and do my job.”
Crosswhite made the next save, then watched senior center back Gabe Sauer win the game for the Spartans with a successful PK in round 11.
He described his secret of enduring 100 minutes of action and an hyper-extended PK session.
“It’s a lot of trying not to get into your own head,” Crosswhite said.
With his calm demeanor and ability to perform in tense moments, Crosswhite is the perfect netminder for De Smet and the starting goalkeeper in this week’s STL’s Best XI for Sept. 23-30.
This season, Crosswhite has compiled a 5-2-1 record for the Spartans with three solo shutouts, a .857 save percentage and a goals against average of 0.95. His season highlights include shutouts of CBC, Lafayette and Francis Howell and a 4-1 victory over SLUH – the only loss suffered by the Jr. Bills this season.
“Up to now, I haven’t had too tricky of a job. The guys in front of me play fantastic,” Crosswhite said.
The job was much trickier for Crosswhite when he was pressed into duty as the starting varsity goalkeeper as a sophomore. He finished the season with an 11-8 record, 1.48 GAA and .757 save percentage.
“It’s kind of a difficult spot to get thrown into,” Crosswhite said. “Young, first time on the team, first time on a varsity level. It’s a different speed of play.”
For De Smet coach Josh Klein, the growth of Crosswhite between his sophomore and junior season was exactly what he hoped to see.
“When he was a sophomore, he was put into a varsity starting role and he had to step up. It was a learning experience, there’s no question. He made some mistakes, but I’m so proud of how he stuck with it. Year after year, he worked to make himself better,” Klein said.
He began his junior season with four consecutive victories while making 37 saves in his first 39 chances. He finished the season ninth in the St. Louis metro area is GAA (0.78) and 11th in save percentage (.884) in helping De Smet achieve a 17-4 overall record.
“I had a little bit of an awakening my sophomore year, but my junior year and this year, I’ve really been able to play my game, calm down and do what I do,” Crosswhite said.
And what he does on the field includes incredible shot-stopping talent and an ability to shut down the air space by intercepting balls at peak trajectory, but his growth from a leadership perspective has impressed Klein the most.
“What I’m really proud of is how vocal he’s become. He’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind, whether in the middle of a game, at practice or at a meeting. He’s turning into a fine young man,” Klein said.
Crosswhite earned the title of captain along with seniors Austin Werner and Jake Panagos this season. It is a responsibility he does not take lightly.
“We’ve all been on the team since our sophomore year and we were very eager to take that on,” Crosswhite said. “We’re ready to steer the ship and see where we can go.”
That voyage almost certainly will include more overtimes, penalty kick sessions and tense moments, and the Spartans are confident that they have the perfect goalkeeper to navigate those waters.
“I have no doubt we can count on him to make a big save in a big moment,” Klein said.
And maybe even score one, too.
STL’s Best XI:
Sept. 23-30, 2023
Forwards
Landin Hoyle, senior, Summit
Tallied two assists in a 3-2 loss to CBC, then scored one goal and added an assist in a 3-1 victory over Marquette. A dangerous attacker, Hoyle has six goals, six assists, and 18 points for the 8-4-1 Falcons.
Cole Bange, senior, Francis Howell
Scored the tying goal in a 2-1 victory over Eureka and scored twice in a 3-1 triumph against Troy. Bange has helped the Vikings achieve a three-game winning streak after a tough, early-season, non-conference schedule.
Midfielders:
Austin Mullen, junior, Lutheran St. Charles
Scored four goals and added two assists in four games during the week. Named Conference Newcomer of the Year last season, Mullen has scored or tallied an assist in nine of 13 games this season, including a highlight-reel goal in a 2-0 victory over Farmington and a 30-yard missile against Bishop DuBourg.
Aidan Welch, senior, Althoff
A repeat Best XI winner, Welch scored five goals, including three game-winners and added two assists during the week. A senior captain and four-year starter, Welch leads the 16-3-1 Crusaders with 18 goals, including a shot from 45-yards out that earned a place on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10.
Logan Wallace, senior, Ladue
A box-to-box defensive midfielder who rarely leaves the field, Wallace registered an assist in a 1-0 victory over MICDS and provided excellent defensive cover in a 1-0 victory over Francis Howell Central.
Jake Panagos, senior, DeSmet
Scored the tying goal against Vianney in a game the Spartans eventually won in PKs and added a goal and two assists in a win over Priory. The anchor of Desmet’s center midfield and team captain, Panagos is second on the Spartans in scoring with five goals and four assists.
Defenders:
Ethan Boeding, senior, St Dominic
A team captain and lockdown defender, Boeding is dangerous in the aerial attack and scored such a goal against Westminster this week. He has helped the Crusaders achieve an 11-4 record with five shutouts.
Max Warneke, senior, Webster Groves
Played every minute at center back and scored the game winner in a 1-0 win over Oakville. Warnecke continued to make impressive tackles, control the air, and distribute the ball in a 2-1 OT victory over Lafayette. He has helped the Statesmen win seven of their last 10 games, five by shutout.
Finny Buckley, junior, Kirkwood
Scored four goals and added an assist in wins against CBC, Gibault, and Summit during the week. A junior captain, Buckley scored a hat trick in a 4-0 win over Gibault and has helped the Pioneers achieve an 11-3 overall record this season.
Drew Fischer, senior, Borgia
Excellent center back who leads a stifling defense. Fischer helped Borgia earn three shutouts in wins against North Point, Sullivan and Cape Girardeau Central this week. He rarely leaves the field and has helped the Knights achieve a 13-4 record with nine shutouts.
Goalie
Kyle Crosswhite, senior, De Smet
Endured 11 rounds of penalty kicks against Vianney, saving two, and even scoring one of his own to give De Smet a 2-1 victory. A senior captain, Crosswhite has stopped 41 shots and has three shutouts in helping the Spartans achieve a 7-2-1 record.