It will be a familiar scene when John Burroughs senior Luca Andrews enters Soccer Park on Friday – right down to the opponent.
As a sophomore, Andrews came off the bench to score the Bombers’ lone goal in a 2-1 state semifinal loss to eventual Class 4 champion Rockhurst.
“I was sitting at the top of the 18 (yard box). A shot deflected off one of our players, rolled to me and I put it in the inside netting. It was a pretty calm finish,” Andrews said.
Now a senior captain, Andrews will use his calm demeanor to help ease the nerves of a young Bombers squad (19-5) when they face two-time defending champion Rockhurst (22-0) in a Class 4 semifinal at 7 p.m. Friday at Soccer Park in Fenton.
“It’s obviously one of the biggest games you’ll ever play in,” Andrews said. “My main advice is just play your game. You’re good enough to be on this field and if you just stick to the roots of your game, you’ll be fine.”
Andrews’ game has been dynamic. His 23 goals include a hat trick against Class 2 semifinalist Westminster and multi-goal performances against De Smet and St. Dominic.
No other John Burroughs player has scored more than four goals this season.
During the Bombers’ postseason run, Andrews scored a hat trick against Hazelwood Central in the opener, the game-winner against SLUH in the district championship and the all-important first goal in John Burroughs’ 2-1 victory over Liberty in the Class 4 quarterfinal.
“He knows what it’s like to be (at the final four), and I think that experience motivated him to bring everybody else along,” John Burroughs coach Alan Trzecki said.
Against Liberty, Andrews’ calmness was necessary when he waited nearly 10 minutes before attempting a penalty kick after red cards were issued to Liberty goalie Aidan Brown, and soon after, an Eagles’ assistant coach.
“I’ve taken two (other) penalties this year and the game has never been delayed that long. I was talking to the referee asking, ‘What’s going on here? Can I please take my penalty?’” Andrews said.
An extended delay and a different goalie did not alter his routine or the result.
“I approached it the same way I would any other (penalty kick) and I buried it,” Andrews said.
It is that unshakable demeanor that makes him the perfect first shooter for John Burroughs in games that extend to PKs.
“I try to set the tone for the shootout. Over my years, I’ve developed the ability to not feel the pressure and just finish the job,” Andrews said.
Andrews began playing soccer at age 6. He played club soccer throughout his youth and began his high school career as a junior varsity player. As a sophomore, he made the varsity team and scored six goals, including a goal in the state semifinal against Rockhurst.
As a junior, he scored 12 goals and added four assists for a John Burroughs team that went 13-8 and was ousted from the playoffs by Chaminade in the district semifinals.
This season, Andrews has become an elite finisher, and his 23 goals are the most for a John Burroughs’ player since John Gates scored 25 in 2019.
He also leads the Bombers with eight assists.
“I’ve developed a lot more as a player, mentally and skillfully,” Andrews said.
Andrews is committed to play soccer at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and plans to major in pre-med. On Friday, he hopes to diagnose an outstanding Rockhurst defense and help the Bombers follow this prescription for victory:
“Trust each other, trust yourself and stay confident,” Andrews said.