In order to make it to the Class 3 state semifinals, the Helias Crusaders will need to get through one of the highest ranked teams to do it.
Helias will face Van Horn, the fifth-ranked team in the latest Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association poll, at 5 p.m. today in the quarterfinals in Independence. The winner earns a trip to Fenton for the Class 3 Final Four next weekend.
The Falcons haven't lost a game in nearly two months. Their last defeat came Sept. 15 when they fell 2-1 to Guadalupe Centers Charter in their home tournament.
Since then, Van Horn (24-2) has rolled off 17 consecutive victories, including nine shutouts.
Helias' current three-game winning streak began in the postseason.
The Crusaders (19-7) are coming off a 4-3 win Tuesday at Harrisonville in the sectional round.
The Wildcats are one of two opponents Helias and Van Horn have in common this season.
Van Horn defeated Harrisonville 3-1 on Oct. 24 on the road.
The other common foe is East Kansas City, which Helias defeated 2-0 on Oct. 15 and Van Horn edged 2-1 on Sept. 18.
The Crusaders have been led by Nick Brandt, who leads the team with 26 goals. He's also second on the team with 16 assists.
Isaac Johnson has accounted for 17 goals and a team-high 17 assists this season for Helias.
Also making an impact in the scoring department has been Luke Hynes, who has 11 goals and nine assists.
Ben Rehagen has been in goal for all 19 of Helias' victories this season and allowed 1.16 goals per game.
Leading the offensive attack for Van Horn is Edison Rios, who leads the Falcons with 34 goals.
Angel DeAvila is second on the team with 24 goals and leads Van Horn with 22 assists.
Van Horn has used a trio of goalkeepers this season, combining to allow 1.2 goals per game.
The winner of today's game will face either Parkway Central (19-6-2) or Fort Zumwalt South (18-9) at 6 p.m. Nov. 16 at World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton.