By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The New Covenant Academy Warriors didn’t waste any time getting the 2019 season started as they played 13 games in 20 days. But, it was a successful run that included two tournament titles and an 8-3-2 record.
“I can remember when we played Thomas Jefferson; the guys were worn out,” said head coach Eric Crain, whose team ended the season with a 2-1 loss in penalty kicks to Fair Grove in the Class 1 District 6 semifinals. “The talk during that game was ‘let’s just get through this game and we can take a couple of days off.’
“Our success came from the relationship we have built with each other. Each player understood their roles and the roles of their teammates. Every one of the players bought in to the style of our play and our success came when we implemented it.”
The Warriors finished with a 14-7-2 overall record playing a strong schedule that included 13 games against Class 2, 3 and 4 teams. Their record against those teams was 7-4-2.
Keys to that success, in addition to having 11 different scorers and 10 players who recorded at least one assist, were graduates Collin Farquhar and Jack Batterson.
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• Collin Farquhar – Scored eight goals and added four assists. Was named Class 1 Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year and Class 1 District 6 First Team. “He received the team MVP at the end-of-the-season awards,” Crain said. “He was a pure leader that understood the game. He knew when to slow the tempo down or when to speed it up. He was a leader that had the respect from his teammates.”
• Jack Batterson – Earned Class 1 District 6 Second-Team honors. “Was a great defender that had speed and understanding of the game.”
New Covenant returns three seniors, three juniors and a group of sophomores with varsity experience.
• Ethan Davis, senior, midfielder – Scored five goals with one assist. “He will be moved to the defense, since we are losing two defensive starters,” Crain said. “He has speed, understanding and a good touch on the ball.”
• Josiah Barstead, junior, defender – Scored two goals with two assists. All-District Second Team. “We lost him at the end of the season due to a knee injury, so it will be exciting to see him back out on the field. Great understanding and great touch.”
• Wade Van Riessen, junior, defender – Collected one assist and was All-District Second Team. “Hard worker, great touch and defender.”
• Spencer Chevalier, junior, forward – Scored 11 goals. All-Region, All-District First Team. “He had a good year last season, but I think this will be his breakout year. He has knack for the goal and will push the tempo.”
• Kaden Moore, senior, forward – Scored one goal with two assists. All-District First Team. “He is a great defender, does a great job to bring calmness to the back field and will be one of our captains this year.”
• Dake Winslow, senior, midfielder/forward – Led the team with 20 goals and seven assists. Class 1 All-State Second Team, All-Region and All-District First Team. “He has led our team in scoring the last three years. He will find himself more as a forward this year, so I’m excited to see what numbers that he will be able to pull out this year. He is a fun player to watch, with great touch on the ball and, most importantly, his understanding of the game and knowing how to read the field is spot-on.”
The sophomore group that Crain sees making a major impact this season includes Seth Smother, Levi Nichols, Logan Dille and Landon Cummings.
Newcomers to the Warriors’ program include two freshmen midfielders in Jackson McRoberts and Ayden Meadows – and a senior in Dillon Dougherty, who will be in goal.
“Dillon Dougherty is a baseball player (catcher),” Crain said. “He has done a great job over the summer learning the keeper position. His athleticism will help him out, since he lacks the experience on the field.”
New Covenant is scheduled to participate in a jamboree at Greenwood on Aug. 25 before opening the season at home against Bolivar on Aug. 28.
“We will have a team of experienced players, and so it should be fun from the very beginning,” Crain said.
