November 14, 2020

By Fred Liggett
[email protected]

The Lee’s Summit West Titans Boys soccer team saw its 2020 season come to a close last week after a sectional round loss at Rockhurst that came after two overtimes were played. The team left the field for the final time after a very successful year that saw the team finish 15-6.

LS West Soccer Coach Chris Brizendine said, “Saturday was not the result we wanted.” But in the end “thankful to just to get the season in with so much uncertainty.” The Titans as a team earned a Big Eight conference title and a Class 4 District 13 championship in addition to a number of individual honors. On the way to the district title the Titans defeated rival LS North 2-1 and then outlasted Lee’s Summit 2-1 in overtime.

Coach Brizendine says he is “Very thankful to have the team practice and play together. Had a tough conference with very good competition”, then the district tourney “was very tough.” One of the reasons for the Titans success this fall was senior Goalkeeper Cole Stewart.

Brizendine says, “Stewart was a big part of our run this year. Has all the tools including shot stopping, a very smart player.” Brizendine when looking ahead added, ”A great kid, we will miss him.”

Cole Stewart also spent a part of his senior year kicking a football for the LS West Titans football team. Stewart had the rare choice of which post season game to participate in on Saturday Nov. 7. Stewart, a place-kicker for the Titans football team, could have joined his teammates in Nixa, Mo. for a District playoff game that afternoon at 1 p.m. Kicking off at the same time was the Titans soccer sectional round match at Rockhurst. Stewart stuck with soccer as he feels “Soccer is always first.” For Stewart the decision was “pretty hard” but he “Made a deal” with the coaches that soccer would come first.

Just having the chance to play this season felt like “A win already” according to Stewart. On his senior season Stewart feels the team “Played well, we had a rough patch but we ended up coming together.” Now that Stewart’s senior season is over in both sports college soccer is up next for the talented goalkeeper. At this time Stewart says his college destination is “Still open.” No doubt it will be interesting to see the next deal Stewart makes with a coach and things will turn out well.