Boys soccer wants to finish what last year’s team started
Ranked No. 1 in the state when last season ended, this year’s team is determined to reach the State Championships.
February 23, 2021
One thing the boy’s soccer team prioritizes is their team chemistry. With 17 seniors graduating last year, the team is trying to work hard to get camaraderie back.
“(We want to) redeem last year’s team and get back [the chemistry] we lost,” junior goalkeeper Thor Yeager said.
When last season was cut short because of COVID, the boys were ranked No. 1 in the state with a 21-0 record.
With a current record of 13-2-1, the boys are undefeated in district play. They have scored 62 goals and allowed just 19.
Their biggest competition this year was expected to be Caney Creek, a team they beat 5-2 on Jan. 29. Porter remains their next big challenge. Neither Kingwood Park nor Porter have lost yet in district action. Their first matchup was postponed because of the winter storm and will now be played at home on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Last year, the first Porter game was close with the teams tied at 3 at halftime. The Panthers pulled away in the second half to win 7-3. The Panthers won 3-1 in the second matchup on March 6 – four days before the season abruptly ended.
“I came here from Woodcreek Middle School; and coming from a school that was decent at soccer to seeing KPark, which is kind of like a powerhouse, it was pretty incredible,” sophomore midfielder Walter Rodee said.
When COVID ended all UIL sports last March, the team’s dream of reaching state and competing for a title ended. This year’s team wants a shot at redemption to honor last year’s seniors.
“Last year’s team was amazing,” senior Parker Ryan said. “That was the most tight knit team. We played together amazingly, we all knew each other so well. We just knew what the other one was going to do in every second of the game. We just played well, spent time together outside of school. We for sure would have won state.”
This year’s team wants to end a state finals drought that dates back to the 2010 season. Coach Ryan Searle said the boys are especially good at finishing and finding the back of the net.
His advice to his players is simple.
“Keep moving forward, keep your head high and stay healthy,” he said.
With a big game against Porter on Saturday and another round of district action ahead, the boys are not looking too far into the future. They are staying focused on the next game.
“Don’t worry about wins, just have fun, build good relationships, and with all of that comes winning,” Parker Ryan said. “When you play together as a team, it’s a lot easier to win than going off of individual talent.”
