They’re hoping for their first win as a co-op in the state soccer tournament

Caleb Hendrikse scored three goals Saturday in a sectional final overtime win over Sturgeon Bay. – Photo by Chris Hendrikse

Sheboygan Christian’s boys soccer team has been to state three times, and left with championships in 2002 and 03.

Sheboygan Lutheran’s squad has also won a state title in its only appearance in 2007.

The two schools are a co-op now, and although they’ve been to the 2016 tourney, the Eagles are still searching for their first win at state.

“It would be so great,” Caleb Hendrikse said. “It’s always been my goal to get to state. And not only to get to state, but to be able to win. It’s something I’ve always dreamed about.”

The junior forward got the team there by scoring every goal in a 3-1 overtime win against Sturgeon Bay in a sectional final on Saturday.

“It was quite something to have a hat trick in the sectional finals,” Hendrikse said. “To be able to win the last game really meant a lot to me.”

After falling behind, 1-0, in the first half, Hendrikse tied the score in the second half.

“I had so many emotions, and it was so insane with the team and crowd going crazy,” he said. “It was quite the feeling.”

Hendrikse added two more goals in OT to increase his team-high lead to 21.

“I was just relieved,” he said. “I was really tired at the moment. I was able to get subbed out and was able to just chill. It was cool, because my brother is the coach and I was able to give him a big hug on the sideline.”

At state, Christian/Lutheran is seeded second and plays third-seeded St. John’s/Chesterton Academies in a Division 4 semifinal game at 7 p.m. at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.

Top-seeded Oostburg faces No. 4 Arcadia at 4:30 p.m.

The Eagles and Flying Dutchmen have shared the Big East Conference championship the past two seasons – they tied, 1-1, Sept. 28 – but Oostburg eliminated Christian/Lutheran on penalty kicks in the playoffs last year.

“I think most people realize we’re the top two teams and we’re just excited that if we can get our work done on Thursday and so can they, it would be really great to have that opportunity to play them on Saturday,” Oppeneer said.

The championship game that day will be held at 1:30 p.m.

“That would be really cool and a really good game,” Hendrikse said.

TEAMS AT A GLANCE

Christian/Lutheran (15-2-2)

The Eagles, ranked third in the final state coaches’ poll, have won six games in a row by a total score of 22-2. They started the season with a tie and a loss, and have allowed a combined six goals in going 15-1-1 since then.

St. John’s Northwestern/Chesterton Academies (12-1-1)

The unranked Lancers, a co-op of one Catholic and one military school, are making their state debut after giving up a total of 11 goals. Four came in a shutout loss to University School (the Eagles beat the Wildcats, 4-0).

Oostburg (17-1-1)

The top-ranked Flying Dutchmen’s only loss was to Onalaska and they are riding an eight-game winning streak by allowing only two goals during that time. Matthew Meke (No. 10) and Preston Ten Dolle (No. 7) have scored a combined 46 goals while the rest of the team has 46. Oostburg has not been to state since 2012 and its only other appearance resulted in the 1994 championship in Division 2.

Arcadia (15-3-2)

The Raiders, ranked ninth, have won their last seven games and have not allowed a goal in their last four. Their only other trip to the tournament resulted in a Division 3 semifinal loss last year.