It's not always quantity, it's quality.
The Glendale Falcons outshot the Helias Crusaders 21-9, including a 12-7 edge in those on goal, in Wednesday night's Class 3 sectional at the Crusader Athletic Complex.
Final score? Helias 2, Glendale 1. It's quality, not always quantity.
"We took our chances when we had them and we made the most of them," Helias coach Jay Hebenheimer said.
With the win, Helias (9-15-1) will play in the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at Neosho (17-7). Neosho blanked Willard 2-0 in its sectional Wednesday night.
"Neosho is going to be a very tough team," Hebenheiemer said.
Glendale was tough Wednesday night. The Falcons had the only shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes of the contest, but the three were stopped by Helias senior keeper Ben Rehagen.
"We knew they were fast and skilled up top, we just had to try to limit the amount of shots they got off," Rehagen said.
Helias got on the board with its first shot on goal. Luke Hynes got the score, lining a shot into the upper half of the far side of the net, assisted by Isaac Johnson.
"We had control for the next 15 or so minutes," Hebenheimer said.
Glendale tied it with 1:54 remaining before half on a goal by Haiden Casper that sent the contest to halftime tied at 1.
"We came off the field looking like somebody killed our dog," Hebenheimer said. "We looked defeated, we had to get our minds right for the second half."
The Falcons finished with a 10-3 advantage in shots in the opening 40 minutes.
"They really peppered us, we knew they like to shoot the ball from just about anywhere on the field on any opportunity they can get," Hebenheimer said.
Rehagen finished with five saves in the half and totaled 11 in the game.
"I deal with that stuff a lot, it makes it more fun for me," Rehagen said. "Truthfully, it can be a little worrisome, but you just have to do your job and let other people do their jobs."
Helias also drew four offsides calls in the first half and seven in the game.
"That was part of our game plan," Hebenheimer said.
The Crusaders got the game-winner midway through the second half. Zach Paschal drove down the right side before feeding a pass to Kaleb Wilson. Wilson stepped around the Glendale keeper, who came out of his net, before knocking his shot into the goal.
"He just tucked it around him and finished," Hebenheimer said.
But there was still 20 minutes remaining. With the lead, the Crusaders went into a more defensive mode.
"We wanted to pull a guy back and park the bus in front of the goal," Rehagen said.
And when that strategy buckled, Rehagen was there to make the save.
"When somebody got past, Ben either stood on his head or the defense made a deflection or changed the angle of the play," Hebenheimer said. "Glendale came at us and we survived the storm."
This is the second straight quarterfinal appearance for the Crusaders, who fell 4-1 to Van Horn in the quarterfinals last season.
But the Crusaders are confident they can win Saturday and advance to the Final Four for the fifth time in program history.
"I think this team can do it," Rehagen said.
Neosho has never advanced to a Final Four in soccer, losing in the quarterfinals last year to Glendale and to Republic in the sectionals in 2018 in its two previous state tournament appearances.
Game time has not been announced for Saturday.
"The boys are gaining confidence and momentum, we're moving in the right direction," Hebenheimer said. "If we can continue to ride this wave, it can be a very special year."