Webster Groves Closes Door on Knights’ Magic
By: Mady Buerck and Tycen Gray
11/13/18
On a frigid afternoon in Kirkwood, Missouri, the Knights were seeking revenge on the Webster Groves Statesmen after losing 3-1 in Farmington earlier in the season, and also being bounced by the Statesmen in the 2015 postseason, when our electric group of seniors were just freshmen. The following is an interview that our own Mady Buerck sat down and conducted with Farmington’s head soccer coach, Addae Rique:
Mady: As a coach, what is the most important thing to let your team know before such a big game?
Addae: It’s just another game the same way you prepare for any other game, is the same way they need to prepare for this one.
M: How has FHS soccer done in the season thus far?
A: The team had a good season so far they have been getting better each game.
M: Are you nervous for a big game like this, how do you coach without showing your emotions to your team?
A: I am not nervous before any game but there is a level of anxiousness that your team will do well.
M: What do you expect for the outcome of this season?
A: Our goal was to win our District, which we have accomplished . Now we are taking each game one game at a time, and doing what we need to do to win and move on.
M: Overall, what would you like to say to all the seniors who are nearing the end of the high school soccer career?
A: To our seniors: We appreciate what they have meant to the program and the Soccer community they have been role models to the younger players. We all know they will move on and do great things.  Enjoyed to see the growth of these young men. They make us proud.
After a 5-0 dismantling of Windsor on their home turf, which included a Bryce Sancegraw hat trick and two Tristan Stotler goals, the Knights found themselves at Kirkwood High School against a Class 3 powerhouse in Webster Groves. While it was quite cold and remnants of the snow from the prior night remained, Farmington proved to be at somewhat of a disadvantage as a solid amount of the Webster Groves student body made the short trip to Kirkwood to support their Statesmen.
The Statesmen attacked the left side of the Knights’ defense frequently and was able to score in quick fashion, giving them an one point advantage early. Webster Groves was able to keep the ball off the feet of both seniors Cole Gerstenberger and Bryce Sancegraw, who control the ball the most for the Knights. Senior goalkeeper Chad Silvey had his busiest match of the season, but responded to the pressure well. As the game wore on, Webster was able to put in two late goals to seal the deal. Silvey managed to save 18 of their 21 shots. Unfortunately, the Knights could not match, and were eliminated by a 3-0 defeat.
However, the score does not spoil the impact that this star-studded group of seniors have had on the Farmington High School soccer program. They consistently came out on top on their soccer contests, and dazzled fans with their advanced skills and athleticism on the soccer pitch.
Bryce Sancegraw finishes his phenomenal soccer career with 152 career goals. Not only does that put him at the top of the leaderboard in terms of Farmington career goals, that places him third all-time in the state in career goals. An unconscious scorer, Bryce is mulling his opportunities to play soccer at the collegiate level. Speedy senior forward Tristan Stotler has already verbally committed to play Division I soccer at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. 6’6” senior midfielder Cole Gerstenberger has also already verbally committed to play collegiate soccer at Division II institution McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois.