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Practice to begin Monday for Mustang soccer squad
Smoky Mountains soccer team will open practice Monday, Aug. 7, at the Jackson County Recreation Center in Cullowhee.
All players in grades 9-12 should report for the initial session, which is set for 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Im cautiously optimistic, said Coach Dolphus Brown, who is preparing for his 16th season. We were very young last year. We grew up a lot and finished strong.
The Mustangs are coming off a 14-6-2 season and reached the second round of the state 2-A playoffs, where they lost 4-2 to eventual state champion Wilkes Central. They finished second in the Western Athletic Conference at 6-3-1.
Were certainly going to have to overcome some losses, Brown said.
Chief among them were the graduation of WAC co-offensive player of the year Coleman Corzine and all-conference goalkeeper Sterling Brady.
Other unexpected losses included Justin Garlock moving to Louisiana, Noah Gallinger transferring to the School of Science and Math and Dylan Jicha electing not to play, according to Brown.
Garlock was going to be our anchor on defense, Brown said.
Because of those losses, Brown said he may have to bring up a couple of players he had planned to leave on the JVs.
On the bright side, the guys we have coming back have experience and talent, but everybody in our conference feels the same way about their teams, he said.
Defending league champion Brevard is expected to have its best team ever, according to Brown. West Henderson should be young but talented with East Henderson improved, the coach added.
Returning all-conference players are senior strikers Grant Schallock and Joey Cox. Schallock led the team in goals and points last season while Cox led in assists.
We will be served well with those guys back, Brown said. Our attack is going to be very strong.
The coach is excited about the arrival of freshman Richard Ramirez, who scored 35 goals for Scotts Creek.
Hes a very crafty, smart player, Brown said. We can play him in the midfield and up top.
The defense will not be as experienced, but Brown is confident the players he has will do well.
Senior Cody Bryson is the leading contender to take over as goalkeeper.
Returning defenders include senior stopper Zack Christy and junior right fullback Coleman Morgan.
Also contending for defensive spots will be returning senior John-Luke McCord along with junior Ian Youmans and sophomore Cort Smith, both up from the JVs.
Top candidates in the midfield include junior returnees Martin Davis, David Cheatham and Rob Tyson, sophomore returnee Matt Dougherty, and junior John Brown, who is up from the JVs.
Matt Ramsey will be an assistant coach and work with goalkeepers. Chris Tyson will coach the JVs.
A multi-team scrimmage is planned for Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Buncombe County Sports Park in Enka. The Mustangs will scrimmage at Hendersonville on Wednesday, Aug. 16.
Brown said his players will be tested mentally the first week of the regular season.
They will open at home against Owen on Monday, Aug. 21. Other games that week are Aug. 23 at North Buncombe and Aug. 24 at home against McDowell.
The schedule is as follows:
Aug. 21 Owen; 23 at North Buncombe; 24 McDowell; 28 Murphy; 30 at Enka.
Sept. 5 at Swain; 6 Tuscola; 13 Swain; 14 at Owen; 18 at Murphy; 20 at Franklin; 25 Brevard; 27 East Henderson.
Oct. 2 at North Henderson; 4 West Henderson; 9 at Pisgah; 11 at Brevard; 16 at East Henderson; 18 North Henderson; 23 at West Henderson; 25 Pisgah.
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