ROCHESTER HILLS — Just enough is good enough.
That could well be the motto of Toledo St. Francis de Sales boys soccer squad if you study their accomplishment: a 10-0-4 won-lost-tied record, eight by shutout, 19 goals, a measly four goals against.
Such bare-boned production has not gone unnoticed. The Knights are ranked 27th nationally, seventh across Ohio, second-best in Ohio in Division 2, and No. 1 among schools within Toledo’s city limits. However, St. Francis left the Buckeye State for the Wolverine State twice in a matter of eight days to claim a pair of Catholic High School League honors.
On Oct. 1, the Knights visited Warren De La Salle for a 1-0 shutout of the Pilots to win the Central Division title in their typical fashion: junior Gavin Trent’s goal early in the first half and junior Joel Neary’s superb goaltending.
On Oct. 8, St. Francis traveled to Oakland University to outlast Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep, 2-0, for the Bishop Division boys soccer championship. They also won in 2024. Senior Ethan Hiegert scored 25 seconds before halftime, Trent seven minutes into the second half, and Neary defended five shots on goal and four corner kicks.
“We pride ourselves in the value of having the ball,” coach Michael Kern said. “We try to be a possession-oriented team. I think we did that great most of the game. There’s some things we gotta tighten up, but our mentality is always better if you control the game, and I think we did.”
“They’re a very quality team,” St. Mary’s head coach Keith Jeffery said. “They’re very organized, they’ve got the size and physicality, they’re smart. They’re definitely a hard team to beat.”
St. Mary’s (9-4-2) had two goals cancelled because of offsides.
“We have to minimize our mistakes,” Jeffery said. “I’m proud of my boys. I thought we matched up, we did what we could. Going down 2-0, our boys fought. So it’s a good test going into the state playoffs.”
The No. 8-ranked Eaglets will play either Auburn Hills Avondale or Holly on Oct. 15.
St. Francis will begin state competition in Columbus the first week in November.
Postscript: You knew sooner or later the Knights’ tightly wound offense would explode. It did two days later, on Oct. 10. The Bowling Green Bobcats were the unfortunate victims of a 13-0 shellacking.
Contact Don Horkey at [email protected].
