The boys soccer team clinched its second consecutive 7A/6A South Conference championship with a win over the El Dorado Wildcats, 2-0, May 9, and the 7A state tournament began yesterday when they took a first round bye. Though players just learned they’d play Springdale Har-ber from last night’s game, senior Bryce Denker said they’ve prepared for nonconference competition all season.
“Coach (Brett) Haugh always preaches to us to play hard in practice because that’s where we’re going to get our competition (during conference play),” he said. “The seniors always keep the level of intensity high in practice so we can take it into the field and get into the state playoffs.”
The team finished its second consecutive undefeated conference season with their win over El Dorado, outscoring all their conference opponents, 81-5. With the exception of one goal against nonconference Searcy May 1, no team has scored on the team since April 15, but senior Evan Caddy said their focus isn’t on conference performance.
“Before conference was definitely more challenging against those northwest Arkansas teams,” he said. “The conference competition is easier. I don’t think we’ll be as prepared as we would be if we’d stayed in the 7A Central Conference, but I think we’ll be ready for state when it gets here.”
The team’s (16-4-1) record lands them in the top four in state, but their (2-4-1) nonconference performance is reason enough to question their preparation. Denker, who leads in the team in scoring with 22 goals and 15 assists, said he believes their record points to more than their competition.
“We weren’t really playing together as a team (during nonconference play), but as we’ve moved through conference, we’ve come together and started on passes with each other,” he said. “It’s a good transition because we didn’t want to peak in nonconference; we want to peak in May, and I think that’s where we’re moving to.”
Junior Houston Clifton said keeping up with state competition has required the team to play itself to get better.
“A lot of times when we scrimmage our jayvee team, that’s the best competition we get when it comes to conference play,” Clifton said. “The games are almost like a break from how hard we work in practice. That’s definitely what’s going to be pushing us through state this year.”
Clifton pointed to freshmen Spencer Qualls and James Lasely as young talent on the team, and said they’d have no problems starting next year.
Whether it’s nonconference play or 6A South competition, the team has continued to win through two types of leaders.
“Bryce is no doubt the best player on the team,” Clifton said. “He’s scored by far the most goals. And (senior) Davis (Nossaman) has that natural leadership ability about him.”
Denker said when it comes to leading; Nossaman is the one person on and off the field who can get their team ready for state playoffs.
“Davis is a great leader,” he said. “He leads more by example, but when something needs to be said, he definitely steps up and says it.”
The team played Har-ber March 16 that ended in a 3-0 nonconference victory. If history repeats itself, the team will either play Fayetteville or Fort Smith Northside Saturday. The state championship will be in Fayetteville May 24.
