WEBSTER GROVES – The resurgence of the Webster Groves soccer team has been fueled by the electric connection between seniors Alan Bredensteiner and Jack Silverman.
“We’ve been a little bit of a duo,” Silverman said. “He’s the top scorer, I’m the top assister. I’m always looking for him.”
Bredensteiner scored two goals, Silverman added two assists and the Webster Groves defense shut the door for its fifth consecutive shutout as the Statesmen defeated Summit 3-0 to win the Class 3 District 2 championship Saturday at Moss Field.
Webster Groves (12-11), which won its first district title since capturing the Class 3 state title in 2022, advanced to play Farmington (15-6) in a Class 3 quarterfinal Saturday at Moss Field in Webster Groves at a time to be determined.
The 2022 Webster Groves state title team took a much different path in its arrival to the postseason, cruising through September with a 12-1-2 record. This season, the Statesmen sat with a 2-9 record on Oct. 1, with more questions than answers.
“Yeah, that was frustrating. It was frustrating as can be,” said Webster Groves coach Tim Velten, who also coached the 2022 state champion team. “I felt like we were playing well, we just weren’t getting results. Balls weren’t bouncing our way, and for whatever reason, we couldn’t get in the ‘W’ column, but the guys kept showing up, kept playing.”
That perseverance was evident in the opening minutes Saturday against a Summit team determined to repeat as district champions. Webster Groves goalkeeper Eddie Ryczek denied a dangerous header from Falcons’ junior Grant Dinges, made a stellar, left leg save on a shot from junior Carson Farwell and watched a pair of glorious Summit chances sail over the crossbar as the Statesmen withstood a furious charge.
“We just couldn’t punch it in. If we score on one of those early (chances), it’s a different outcome maybe,” Summit coach Tom Wade said.
Summit (8-12-2) defeated Webster Groves 2-1 during a regular season meeting on Sept. 25. It was the identical score by which Summit knocked the Statesmen out of the playoffs last season after an overtime, district championship-winner by Chase Parmer.
“We were definitely nervous coming in. We didn’t want the same outcome as last year,” Bredensteiner said.
Silverman added, “There wasn’t a day in the offseason that I didn’t think about that game. Summit is a natural rival, and last year’s district final was one of the saddest days of my life.”
2025 Summit vs Webster Groves district championship game story: https://metrosportsstl.com/2025/11/10/parmer-puts-summit-in-celebration-mode-with-overtime-game-winner-against-webster-groves-for-district-title/.
The connection between Silverman and Bredensteiner assured a different result to this district final.
In the 34th minute, Silverman accepted a pass in the midfield, took a glance ahead and spotted Bredensteiner, who was ready to make a run. Silverman launched a 40-yard pass that landed on the left foot of Bredensteiner, who popped a perfect volley into the top of the net to give Webster Groves a 1-0 lead.
“I put my hand up, I saw it coming, and I said, ‘This ball is mine,” Bredensteiner said. “We have a really good relationship with finding each other. It was great to connect again in a district final.”
Bredensteiner and Silverman played major roles in creating the second Webster Groves goal midway through the second half. Weaving through the midfield, Bredensteiner creatively maneuvered around two slide tackling Falcons, sped into the offensive end and sent a cross to freshman Jalen Johnson, who was fouled just outside the box.
Both Bredensteiner and Silverman stood over the free kick. Bredensteiner faked, and Silverman connected on an almost perfect shot.
“I aimed top right and looked for the curler,” Silverman said.
Silverman’s curler avoided the lunging hand of Summit goalkeeper Matthew Slowik, pinged the underside of the crossbar and fell deliciously into the goal mouth, where senior defender Barrett Battles headed it into a vacant net to increase the Webster Groves’ lead to 2-0 in the 66th minute.
Unlike the start of the season, the bounces favored the Statesmen and forced Summit to employ an aggressive style of play to find a goal.
“At that point we’re chasing the game and we started pushing numbers forward,” Wade said. “We just couldn’t find the back of the net. It’s the first time we’ve been shut out all season, so I tip my cap to them for that.”
With just over three minutes remaining, Bredensteiner escaped on a breakaway and deposited his 18th goal of the season to leave no doubt of the outcome. It was his fourth goal of the playoffs and 14th since Oct. 3, when the Statesmen surge began.
“The start of the season was really rough,” Bredensteiner said. “We had the individual skill sets, but we didn’t know how to put it together as a team. After that (Oct. 1) loss (to Vianney), things kind of clicked, we started putting the pieces together, and we found our identity. We couldn’t ask for a better second half of the season.”
That newfound identity also applied to a defensive unit that has earned six shutouts in its last seven games and has not yielded a goal through its first three playoff games.
Battles was the only returning defender for the Statesmen coming into the season. The continued improvement of Augie Warneke, Julius Facchin and Brennan Kelly on the back line, along with stellar goaltending by Ryczek, has turned the Webster Groves defense into an impenetrable force.
“Those guys figured things out, matured and were different players the second half of the season, and (Ryczek) is Johnny-on-the-spot right now. He’s locking it down,” Velten said.
For Summit, which also figured things out after an 0-4 start, a return to a district championship match at Moss Field was the opportunity the Falcons’ craved.
“Our programs have a lot of respect for each other. Win or lose, coming out here (to Moss Field) – what a great environment. So many people from each community come out, and for these kids to play in that kind of environment, that’s why we do this. It was another special game in a special rivalry,” Wade said.
Velten added, “Summit is a terrific team. They play as hard as anybody we face. You feel like you’ve gone 12 rounds when you play a game with them. I didn’t take a relaxed breath until the whistle blew at the end.”
And when the whistle blows to begin the Class 3 quarterfinal on Saturday, the Statesmen will try to ride their remarkable turnaround all the way to the final four.
“This season has been very hard, so much adversity, but it’s made our team so strong,” Silverman said.
Velten added, “I told them, ‘Nobody feels sorry for Webster Groves. There’s nothing you can do but step out there every night, play and get better,’ and they have done that.”
For a photo gallery from this game, click on the link below:
https://benvessa.smugmug.com/Boys-Soccer/Boys-Soccer-2026/Summit-vs-Webster-Groves-C3D2-championship