They've had to wait a year, but the Helias Crusaders finally have a chance to get some revenge against the Glendale Falcons.
When Helias (16-10) and Glendale (18-8) lock horns in a Class 3 sectional quarterfinal at 3 p.m. today at the 179 Soccer Park, the Crusaders are hoping history doesn't repeat itself. That's because the teams met at the same point of last year's playoffs, with Glendale securing a 4-1 win at home to earn a berth in the Final Four.
If Helias is able to emerge with a win, it would earn the fifth Final Four berth in program history and first since 2009, when the Crusaders came in fourth in Class 2.
Helias has also made trips to the Final Four in 2000 (fourth in Class 1A-3A), 2001 (fourth in Class 1A-3A) and 2008 (second in Class 2).
Glendale will be seeking its sixth trip to the Final Four. The Falcons have finished second twice, including last year, and have placed fourth three times.
The Crusaders and Falcons have three common opponents this season. Both beat Rolla, Helias winning 2-0 and Camdenton winning 1-0, and both beat Camdenton, with the Crusaders rolling 3-0 and Glendale romping to a 4-0 win. Glendale beat Sedalia Sacred Heart, a team appearing in this weekend's Class 1 Final Four, 1-0 in overtime. Helias lost to Sacred Heart 1-0 in a game decided by penalty kicks.
The winner of today's game will face either Farmington (23-1-2) or Webster Groves (22-5-2) at noon Friday at the World Wide Technology Soccer Park - previously known as the Anheuser-Busch Center - in Fenton.