Two Crusaders named to Class 3 all-state soccer team

Isaac Johnson of Helias is a Class 3 first-team all-state selection as a midfielder.
Isaac Johnson of Helias is a Class 3 first-team all-state selection as a midfielder.

The Helias Crusaders knew the potential was there.

Injuries to three key players in the second half of the year resulted in a record of 1-8-1 in the final 10 regular-season games as the Crusaders prepared for the start of the soccer postseason.

"The injuries threw a kink in the works," Helias coach Jay Hebenheimer said. "And even when they came back, it took two or three games for us to find ourselves again.

"But once we found ourselves again, it was lights out."

Healthy and ready to go in the postseason, the Crusaders repeated as district champions before falling in the Class 3 quarterfinals.

"It was a very successful season, we just came a half short of reaching our ultimate goal of reaching the Final Four," Hebenheimer said. "We didn't let the adversity define us, it was a special group that accomplished what we did."

Two Crusaders - seniors Isaac Johnson and Zach Paschal - earned all-state honors from the Missouri Soccer Coaches Association.

Johnson, one of the three Crusaders who missed significant time with an injury, was a first-team selection as a midfielder.

"I get a vote for all-state, but it's just one vote," Hebenheimer said. "People knew when they played us in the middle of the season, they were getting off easy."

Johnson was a key member of the team, even while he was injured.

"He led vocally," Hebenheimer said. "He'd pep them up and coach them. I think he matured a little bit and brought a new facet to his game."

Paschal was a second-team selection at forward.

"He was there every game, I think I may have taken him off the field a total of 60 minutes all season," Hebenheimer said, "His effort was unbelievable, the way he pushed himself and his teammates, he's a great motivator.

"Even in the difficult game, he was making sure we weren't hanging our heads afterward."

With Johnson, Kaleb Wilson and Carson Mudd healthy for the postseason, the Crusaders won their two district games by a combined score of 14-1.

Helias then defeated Glendale 2-1 in the sectional before heading to Neosho for the quarterfinals.

The Crusaders led 2-1 at the half before Neosho scored three times in the second half to post a 4-2 victory.

"We ran into a bad half against Neosho," Hebenheimer said. "One bad half can hurt you."

One positive with the injuries was it provided the Crusaders a chance to develop players for next season.

"We had some boys step in and do some very good things for us," Hebenheimer said. "Players that are going to be pivotal to the program in the future got some minutes that they might not necessarily have gotten this season.

"We didn't let the injuries get us down, the mentality was that we could still compete. Our schedule doesn't really allow us to take games off and we didn't. Even when we were getting beat, we were playing hard and competing."

Helias ended the season at 9-16-1.