Cougar Soccer Expecting Big Things

Expectations High for Cougar Soccer
By David Gravely

The Pulaski County High School boys varsity soccer team was able to win some tough games last year, but this season they are expecting to make a strong showing in the always tough River Ridge District as they return all but one member of last years young team.

"We started off strong last year, but we couldn't close out the season" said Cougar Head Coach Mike Price. "We only lost one senior from last year's squad, so I'm excited about having all the guys back. This is my tenth year as coach, and I can honestly say that not many of the past teams are comparable to the talent of this team. I am expecting more out of these guys. We have 15 seniors on this squad, so I'm looking for many of them to provide leadership."

While having 15 returning seniors is never going to be a bad thing, Price also has plenty of other younger players to work with. "Even though we a senior heavy team, I think we have a good mix. My job is to try and bring them all together, so the first couple of scrimmages and games are going to be crazy trying to find out the most effective lineup. We have a deep bench this year. Basically we have 17 guys who could start, so when we have to make substitutions, we won't lose a step. We have been conditioning since January, so the boys are chomping at the bit to play their first game."

Offensively, the Cougars look stronger than they ever have. Up front, the forwards are junior Zack Akers, sophomore Andrew Powers, senior Josh Dalton, sophomore Austin Talbert, and junior Javier Wagner. Akers is a returning starter who was named to the River Ridge District second team last year, and led the team with 10 goals.

"Zack provides us with a strong physical presence up front, and he is actually good at feeding the ball to others" said Price. "Andrew Powers saw considerable time last year as a freshman, and has a solid shot and great placement. Andrew is so unselfish with the ball, always wanting to set up others. This year I want him firing away a bit more. Dalton is the lone senior of the group, and was responsible for 2 goals last season. Talbert came up big for us last year in big games, and was one of our scoring leaders. He has great breakaway abilities, and will also contribute in the midfield. Wagner is a transfer student who had to sit out last year. He is very skilled with the ball, has a great shot, and is hard to contain. All these guys are unselfish with the ball, and they all will be expected to contribute. No matter who is in at the time, all these guys can find the back of the net."

Further back on the field, the good news keeps on coming. Key returners who started last year are senior Tyler Trussler, senior Cody Wright, senior Cory McDaniel, sophomore Tye Saul, and senior Taylor Webster. Rounding out the midfield are senior Trevor Hedge and senior Dylan Reichner, along with newcomers sophomore Daegan Friend, senior Christian Fore, and junior Jordan Reed. 

"Tyler will be one of our center midfielders and may play on the left side at times" said Price. "The left footer was second team River Ridge District last year, and he can pass well, has well placed free kicks. He is good at keeping the ball at his feet. Wright was named to the district honorable mention team last year, and will be in the center the majority of the time. Wright also has a strong left leg, can provide accurate crosses, and will handle many of our corner kick plays. McDaniel will work on the right side. Cory plays defense very well in the midfield, and we are wanting him to drive the ball down the right side this year. He will also work out of the other center midfield spot at times."

"Taylor Webster will handle our "stopper" duties, which is basically a defensive midfielder position. Taylor's size and height help him stop offensive runs before they start. He also does a great job winning balls out of the air and has a strong leg. Saul saw considerable playing time last year as a freshman. Tye is very good with the ball, and likes to set other up. He will move around the midfield a lot. Friend was a starter for the JV squad last year. Daegan has improved a great deal from last year. He has speed and determination that will come in handy. He may also play up front at times. Christian is a transfer from North Carolina, but originally played at Pulaski County as an 8th grader. He gives some size and height to the midfield. Hedge has shown dramatic improvement in the off season, and Reichner hustles all the time. Reed moves up from the JV squad this year."

While the offensive and midfield players look strong, the Cougars defensive players may be one of their strongest groups. "Defensively, we have more players this year than last year" said Price. "Returning starters from last year include senior Gabe LeBlanc, senior Cody Linkous, senior Brandon Brock, and senior Jordan Taylor. We also have senior James Crandall and senior Cooper Stephens returning for a successful senior year. New to the team this year are senior Kevin Powell, junior Arman Cruise, and junior Ryan Pfeiffer. LeBlanc was named to the first team All District last year. Gabe's size, determination, and leadership were key for us, and we're counting on it again. He is responsible for marking the other team's offensive threats. Linkous was named to the River Ridge District's honorable mention team. Cody plays center back for us, and he brings speed and hustle. Taylor returns to the right side, and he also gives us speed and the ability to bring the ball up out of the defense. Brandon is one of the quickest players on the team. He can recover quickly, and is not afraid to get physical. Crandall and Stephens can bring a change of pace and they both never give up. Crandall will work on the right side with Stephens working on the left. Cruise was a starter on the JV squad last year. He is an intelligent player who uses the sideline well. Powell is a quick and powerful player. We will use him to beef up on some players, and he definitely has some defensive abilities. Pfeiffer is a dedicated defender that can be physical as well. Overall, we have the speed and size to slow down many teams."

The final piece of the puzzle is the goal keeper. Zack Willard returns to try and best his first team River Ridge District and Region IV honorable mention accomplishments from last year. "Zack is a phenomenal goalkeeper, one of the best I have ever seen. His kicks and punts are instant offense, and his diving ability is impressive. He cuts angles well, and he takes a lot of balls out of the air. When Zack is having a great game, it is hard to score on him. He kept a lot of balls out of the goal last year, and had 4 shut outs to his credit. Zack has the ability to keep us in games if things aren't going as planned. If the defense and Zack are clicking, a lot of teams will have a hard time getting off quality shots."

With the official start of the season drawing close, Coach Price is hoping that all the hard work from last year and during the off season will pay off. "I am excited about this year, and I am demanding the best out of these guys. Ricky Wright has been working them hard the whole off season. I honestly would be lost without Rick. He does so many of the behind the scenes things that helps keep things running smoothly. We have a great system in place, and I hope all the hard work pays off. These guys have the ability to do something special, but they will have to continue to work hard and stay focused to get it."

The Cougars kick things off this Friday, as they host Marion in a scrimmage at Kenneth J. Dobson Stadium. JV action is set to get underway at 4:30, and the varsity matchup is scheduled to begin at 7 pm.