File photos by Rick Nation and Kevin Nagle
Bryce Denker (Photo by Rick Nation)
It won’t be easy to top.
Last year, the Bryant Hornets soccer team set a school record with 20 wins, won the program’s first conference championship, and came within a breath of playing for a Class 7A State Tournament championship. The Hornets went 20-3-1 overall, 13-1 in the South Conference and, in the State semifinals, were clipped in overtime by Fort Smith Northside.
Yes, it’ll be a tall order, but the Bryant Hornets open the 2014 season Friday night hosting a jamboree involving Cabot and Little Rock Catholic, fully expecting to improve on all of that.
The team officially opens the season at a tournament in Fort Smith on Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8.
Brett Haugh, who served as the assistant to Jason Hay last year, takes on the head coach’s role this season as Hay moved to administration. Haugh will be assisted by Clint Shadwick.
“We’ve got some experience in almost every position,” Haugh noted. “We’re not fixing a lot of stuff that’s not broke. We had a successful season last year so we’re kind of doing things the same way. As far as formation, we’re running a 4-4-2. I’ve kind of changed a few things on our corner kicks and free kicks, things like that; little set plays that we’re doing.
Blake Reed (Photo by Rick Nation)
“The whole mindset of working as a team has been a big part of this preseason, doing things together,” he added.
The Hornets have two starters back at forwards, junior Dylan Wolf and senior Bryce Denker, who last year set a single-season state record for goals scored with 43.
“We’re trying to build around him a little bit but also not keep it just to him,” Haugh said. “We’re trying to bring everybody else in the picture also, to kind of get out of the mindset that he’s the only one that has to score.”
Haugh mentioned that freshman James Lasley will get considerable playing time at forward, as well.
At center-mid, Blake Reed, Corey Laisure and Krishna Gurung have stepped to the fore. On the wings, Evan Caddy and Houston Clifton are back with Collin Campbell and Jack Buck in the mix as well.
On defense, a veteran crew of Davis Nossaman, Cory Ballew, Houston Chavis and Bryan Oldham are set. Slade Lewis will tend the goal with support from Hayden Ray.
The team also includes juniors Chris Godwin, Edwin Vicente and Alex Denker; sophomores Nathan Suarez, Davis Toler, and Danny Vivar; and freshmen Conner Qualls, Javier Zamora, Brian Resendiz, Dalton Bryant, Alex Ibarra, Kobe Ray, Johnny Navarez, Chase Kincaid, Andy Doonan, John Sohn, Carson Cato, and Logan Valestin.
Cory Ballew (Photo by Rick Nation)
Asked what he’s been most encouraged by in the preseason, Haugh said, “Defense, I’ve been pretty impressed. We had a scrimmage against some alumni and defensively we were very aggressive, worked together as a unit very well; team defense.”
And what would he like to see improve?
“Passing as a unit, connecting passes up and down the field,” he related. “I think that’s been our problem in the preseason, just passing in general.
Dylan Wolf and Corey Laisure (background). (Photo by Kevin Nagle)
