Podcast: St. John’s Prep’s Dave Crowell on winning a state championship

St. John's Prep celebrates its MIAA Division 1 state championship last month. (Dave Arnold/NESJ)

The latest guest on New England Soccer Journal’s “The Goal” podcast is St. John’s Prep (Mass.) boys soccer coach Dave Crowell.

Last month, Crowell led St. John’s Prep (22-0-1) to an MIAA Division 1 state championship, the program’s first state crown since 2006. The Eagles beat Needham, 2-0, for the title on Nov. 19. They ended the season ranked No. 5 in the country by United Soccer Coaches.

Crowell has enjoyed enormous success during his longtime tenure at the Prep, and at Lynnfield (Mass.) High School before that, amassing well over 300 wins in his career. A native of Beverly, Mass., he was an Eastern Massachusetts Soccer Coaches Association (EMSCA) Hall of Fame inductee for the Class of 2021.

He joined host Matt Langone to discuss the Prep’s special 2022 season, and his coaching journey as a whole. 

The full podcast can be accessed below and is available on all major platforms. If you enjoy it, please leave a rating and a review.

Here are some highlights from our discussion with Crowell.

On the feeling of winning the state championship:

Crowell: “To quote a colleague of mine, John Roy, who used to be the lacrosse coach here and won a state championship a long time ago, ‘if you could just bottle that feeling, we’d be millionaires.’ It was a lot of fun. All the credit to the kids, they work so hard — one of the hardest-working teams I’ve ever had. Obviously, one of the most talented teams I’ve ever had, and the chemistry was just phenomenal. For example, during the tournament we won five games, we started four different lineups, which is pretty unusual. And kids who lost their spot in the lineup for a particular game, there were no complaints. I didn’t hear a word from the kids. We had one goal in mind, and everybody knew that was the goal.”

On the team’s defense, which surrendered just one goal in five state tourney games:

Crowell: “We only gave up seven goals all season through 23 games. We knew we had the talent back there, but three of the five (tourney) games we won by a goal, and then the final was by two. It was all about our defense. I know the cliche, but that’s what wins championships.”

On the atmosphere at the state championship match at Manning Field in Lynn, Mass.

Crowell: “It was a great atmosphere to look across that field. They had told me that they sold 2,700 tickets for that game. If you’ve been there, it’s a big stadium, that’s why they had the state championship game there. You couldn’t get a seat. They had to open up the other section of stands. It was great.”

On how high school soccer has changed over the past couple decades:

Crowell: “The kids are so talented now. Technically, their first touch, their shooting, their passing, because a lot of them are playing club soccer from a young age, but I think it’s even more than that. I think it’s that they get to watch soccer on TV now at the highest level, whether it be MLS or Champions League — that just wasn’t available to me.”

The Goal” podcast is brought to you by the New England Revolution and Soccerheads New England.

For advertising opportunities, please contact [email protected].