After five years, Woodbury senior attacker Trey Lervick and coach Jason Worwa are still making memories together.
The Royals edged crosstown rival East Ridge 8-6 on Wednesday night behind Lervick’s four goals, earning Woodbury (12-0, 7-0) its first Suburban East Conference crown and marking another milestone in Lervick and Worwa’s careers.
“We knew that this game against East Ridge was going to be a battle, doesn’t matter what our records are,” Worwa said.
The Raptors (9-3, 6-2) finished second in the league standings.
With physical play reigning supreme, two talented offenses were held to a mere five combined goals after one half.
Lervick received the brunt of that physical attention, being closely guarded by East Ridge's back line.
“It comes to a point where it’s just part of the game,” Lervick said, adding that he’s no stranger to a bruising style.
“You have to be able to accept that, and then you can push through it,” Lervick said.
Lervick has been a member of the Woodbury varsity since he was in eighth grade, as has senior goaltender Chris Rolfing, and the extended time together has built a strong bond between Worwa and his veteran players.
“We’ve got 18 seniors on this team, and it’s going to be a real tough day for me,” Worwa said, referring to the rapidly-approaching end of the season.
“They’re my second family, and I’ve known some of these kids since they were 14 years old,” Worwa said. “It’s been real fun watching these guys grow, both as athletes and as people.”
Lervick leads the Royals with 47 goals and 69 points, and has committed to Air Force for next season.
“Highs and lows, (Worwa has) always been there,” Lervick said. “It’s been amazing to be able to spend all this time with Jason and grow with him.”
Lervick, Worwa and senior midfielder M.J. Okada were part of the Woodbury team that went 2-11 in 2014, and the three have helped rebuild the Royals’ program to the tune of the No. 7 ranking in the latest state coaches’ poll just two seasons later.
Okada added a goal in Wednesday’s win and said no one should be surprised at Woodbury's success this year.
“I’ve been growing up with these guys for a lot of years, and we knew that this was going to be our season,” Okada said. “To accomplish this is nothing out of the ordinary, it (was) just a matter of time."
Okada is the Royals’ second-leading scorer with 18 goals and 45 points, and was tasked with holding onto the ball until time expired on Wednesday night.
“I told the guy from the (Woodbury) Bulletin that it was going to take a team and a half to take it away from me,” Okada said. “I was not going to drop that ball.”
Okada didn’t drop the ball, but the Royals may need to drop by East Ridge coach Aimee Caines’ house to retrieve the trophy awarded to the winner of the annual rivalry game.
Independent School District 833, which includes Woodbury, East Ridge and Park of Cottage Grove, made the decision before the 2015-2016 athletic season to prohibit teams from bringing rivalry trophies to games.
“It’s in their coach’s garage. We’re going to have to get that out,” Lervick said with a grin.
