CREVE COEUR – The Oakville boys soccer team entered a spiraling free-fall.
A loss in penalty kicks to Mehlville in front of a huge crowd triggered a three-game losing streak for the Tigers and a frantic search for answers.
“That loss to Mehlville ruined our confidence pretty bad,” senior captain Kyle Halamicek said. “It was a packed game, a lot of nerves. We kept trying to play it long and it wasn’t working out.”
Oakville found the answer in selfless leadership.
Halamicek and fellow captain Bashor Soufi moved away from their center midfield and striker positions to join captain Brayden Burr and senior Ryan Sophie on a veteran back line that contains more armbands than a blood pressure station at an Urgent Care.
And they have found the perfect rhythm.
The Tigers’ defense eliminated scoring chances and junior Edvin Trnjanin scored the game-winning goal as Oakville defeated Fort Zumwalt South 1-0 Wednesday in Pool A of the inaugural STL Champions League tournament at De Smet High School.
Oakville (5-3-1), which won its third consecutive game, moved to 1-0-1 in Pool A and will face Summit (4-8; 0-2) on the final day of STL Champions League pool play at 2 p.m. Saturday at Fort Zumwalt South High School.
Fort Zumwalt South (5-5; 1-1) will host De Smet (9-1-1; 1-0-1) at 4 p.m. Saturday. De Smet currently holds the tiebreaker over Oakville in Pool A due to goal differential.
- For a full STL Champions League schedule and to purchase tickets, go to https://laduesoccer.wixsite.com/stl-champions-league.
After losses to Ladue and Clayton by a combined 5-0 score, Oakville switched Halamicek to right back and Soufi to left back prior to its Champions League opener against De Smet. The Tigers tied the high-scoring Spartans 1-1, with De Smet scoring its only goal on a Landon Weber penalty kick.
“The tie against De Smet really boosted us and we’ve been winning ever since. We’re on a real good roll,” Halamicek said.
That roll continued Wednesday as the Oakville defense blocked shots, cleared set pieces and acquired 50-50 balls.
“Defensively, we’re smart back there – communication, controlling the game. We’ve got veteran players that are pretty good at winning the ball in the air and making smart passes,” Oakville coach Brad Oestreich said.
Smart passes from the back became the catalyst for Oakville’s goal in the 11th minute. Junior Ali Al-Kenani accepted a pass down the left sideline and sent a cross into traffic. A Fort Zumwalt South defender attempted to clear it out of danger but it settled on the foot of Trnjanin at the top of the box.
“I was expecting (the defender) to try to header it out, so I positioned myself and angled my feet to shoot,” Trnjanin said.
Trnjanin drove a right-footed laser from 20 yards away into the top left corner of the net for his team-leading, fourth goal of the season and third game-winner.
“You can’t waste your chances,” Trnjanin said of his goal production this season. “If I have a chance to shoot, I’m going to shoot it.”
The chances for Fort Zumwalt South became more dangerous in the second half. A free kick service by junior Lukas McMahon was directed inches wide by the head of senior Andrew Presson. Two high-quality shots from inside the box were blocked by Burr and Soufi.
Zumwalt South senior goalie Carter Muehling kept it a one-goal game with an excellent save on a point-blank shot from Al-Kenani, but a final clear from danger by Halamicek preserved the second shutout in the last three games for Oakville.
Earlier in the day, Halamicek was selected as a member of the STL Best XI for Week 3 of the boys soccer season as voted on by area coaches.
“That was an honor. It was really cool,” Halamicek said.
For Oestreich, the presence of Halamicek on the Oakville back line has brought an unshakable quality to the entire team.
“It’s his work ethic. Some people can work hard and be chaotic, but he’s pretty calm back there and gives us great back line leadership,” Oestreich said.
The Tigers are 3-0-1 since employing its veteran back line, fully recovering from an early-season nosedive with a chance to emerge from Pool A of the STL Champions League with a win and some help on Saturday.
“We just want to come out and compete every game, and if we move on, that’s great,” Oestreich said.
Halamicek added, “We’re passionate and we love to play the game. All the boys are hyped about this tournament.”
- For a full photo gallery from this event go to: https://benvessa.smugmug.com/Boys-Soccer/Boys-Soccer-2024/Oakville-vs-Fort-Zumwalt-South