In any high school sport, a goal that is held by almost every team is being able to win a district championship. The 2017 boys soccer team has now accomplished that goal.

The Owls defeated Hillsboro 3-0 on Wednesday night to win the district title. It is just the second district title in school history. 

“It felt really good being able to win it this year after not being able to pull it off last year, and winning it as easily as we did was pretty nice,” junior Anton Sokolic said.

Earlier this season, a district title looked pretty bleak. The Owls began the season 0-6-1. However, the schedule was packed with tough opponents. Four of those losses were by two goals or less.

Head coach Chris Krueger believes that rough start actually wound up bringing the team some benefits. 

“There was a confidence that was built and a belief that these players were good enough to compete with anyone,” he said.

In Windsor’s two district games, the Owls outscored opponents by a score of 13-2. The goals came from many different players. In a 10-2 win against DeSoto, Cody Wilson and Connor Portlock both recorded hat tricks in the same game.

Portlock is also in some elite company himself as he finds himself among the area’s top goal scorers late in the season. He has 19 goals on the season.

“Connor Portlock has been our leader all throughout,” Krueger said.

Krueger also noted several others have stepped up for the Owls late in the season. Junior Cody Wilson is second on the team in points with 25. Wilson said his team has improved throughout the season.

“We really started coming together and learning how to play together,” Wilson said.  

On Thursday morning, the boys soccer team became the first team at Windsor to ring the ‘Spirit Bell,’ which is located just outside the high school gymnasium.  But now the celebrating is over.

While they’ve already accomplished one big goal, there is more soccer to be played as they turn their focus to sectionals. The Owls will play the winner of the North County/Farmington game, which takes place tonight. The sectional game will take place on Tuesday, October 31. The site is to be determined.

“We are taking it one game at a time. We are enjoying our victories, but preparing for our next game,” Krueger said.