By Staff

Fall 2019 Preview: Catholic Soccer

By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

Success and Springfield Catholic Soccer are synonymous.

The Fightin’ Irish have won nine of 10 district titles since 2009 and two state championships during that time. Even when there are doubters, they find a way.

“Not many people had Springfield Catholic tabbed as a high-level team for 2018,” head coach Mike Hines said. “We finished 20-4, which is the third-best winning percentage in the program’s history. Of our 20 wins, approximately three-quarters were against teams with a winning average, and all four losses were by one goal.

“We had great wins against Carthage, Kickapoo, Nixa, Ozark, Republic, Pembroke Hill, Monett and Sedalia Smith-Cotton during the regular season, but fell to Monett in the sectionals. We also fought to come back from second-half deficits several times for wins.”

Catholic finished the season ranked sixth in Class 2, after being ranked as high as 1 or 2 in the statewide coaches’ poll for most of the season.

The Irish increased their goals scored by double-digits for the fourth straight year, while keeping their goals-against average at less than one per game for the second year in a row. For the season, they totaled 87 goals scored, allowed 23 and recorded eight shutouts. They also went 7-1 in the Big 8 Conference, tying with Logan-Rogersville and Monett for the conference championship.

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Heading into the 2019 season, Catholic will have to overcome the loss of key players on both offensive and defensive.

“We graduated our two main scorers, Hunter Skornia and Calvin Sanders, along with two of our best defenders, Jake Demarest and Benny Greenly,” said Hines, the Class 2 Central/Southwest Region Coach of the Year (private) and Big 8 Conference Coach of the Year. “Due to relocation, we are unfortunately also losing Payton Prenger (first-team all-district) and Reece Cornwell. Carson Morgan is recovering from knee surgery, totaling seven starting positions to be filled.”

• Hunter Skornia, a forward, scored 16 goals, had 14 assists and was named Class 2 All-State First-Team, all-region, Class 2 District 10 First-Team and all-conference first-team.

• Calvin Sanders, a forward, scored 22 goals with eight assists. He earned first-team all-state, all-region, first-team all-district and first-team all-conference honors.

• Benny Greenly, a midfielder, was all-region, first-team all-district and honorable mention all-conference.

• Jake Demarest, a defender, earned second-team all-state, all-region, all-district and second-team all-conference honors.

“On the positive side, we have a strong core of returning players,” Hines said. “Colby Fritz, Trey Garoutte, Garrett Weber, Dane Rowe, Ethan Straus, Cole Martin and goalies Nick Gomez and Nathan Gassel will be asked to play a variety of roles while we assess other players and how they can be pieced together with other varsity players.”

Postseason honors for the returning players included: Weber, senior defender, all-district and all-conference first-team; Fritz, senior midfielder, all-district first-team and second-team all-conference; Gomez, senior goalkeeper, first-team all-district and all-conference; Rowe, senior midfielder, second-team all-district and all-conference honorable mention; Garoutte, senior midfielder, second-team-all-district.

Hines said there have been a number of players attending open field with several who will have an opportunity to see extended playing time.

“Michael Mullins and Jacob Ropka were the cornerstone for the defense on JV and will be expected to meet the expectations we have set for continuing our tradition of a solid defense,” Hines said. “Keanu Bagio did well for varsity at the end of last year and will see a lot of time on offense along with Drew Bauer in the midfield.

“Newcomers Ashton Vinton and Gage Vehr are showing signs of adapting to their first season in high school soccer.”

The Irish will be participating in a jamboree with Ozark and Republic on Aug. 23 at Parkview, and then open the season at home against Branson on Sept. 5.

“Our goals are always the same – be competitive in every game and compete for a district title,” Hines said. “If both goals are met, then it is a successful season.”