By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Willard senior forward Kendrik Troutt brings a relentless energy to the pitch, but even his gas tank was exhausted Saturday afternoon.
Troutt and the Tigers, amid a grueling September slate, cleared another stage of a month-long endurance test with a 2-0 victory over Springfield Central in the championship game of the New Covenant Academy Warrior Classic.
Saturday was Willard’s fourth match of the week – and eighth so far in September. The Tigers will play seven more September games over the next two weeks.
“You could see it in the second half and even early in the game today, we were dragging a little bit,” said Willard coach Jamie Waddell said. “Legs (weren’t) underneath us, but that’s why offseason (training) is tough. They’ve responded well in these two weeks.”
Troutt, one of Willard’s top returning scorers from last season, had both goals on Saturday.
He struck first in the 31st minute when he forced a Central defender into a giveaway and quickly converted the scoring opportunity.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
“I just took it from the kid and then… closed my eyes and shot it,” Troutt said. “I knew I had to try to score in that spot.”
Said Waddell: “As most coaches are, we want high pressure from our forwards. Trout has a motor on him and he was able to make a good play.”
Troutt helped Willard seal the win late in the second half when he scored (71’) on a feed from classmate Izzy Martinez.
“Izzy and Troutt are really close friends, and they work well together,” Waddell said. “Troutt gave the ball up to Izzy, and Izzy played a flick over the top. Troutt has such great touches and skill that he was able to bring it down, in traffic, and bury the ball.
“That was a combination play from them. It was awesome to watch.”
Junior goalkeeper David Lawson and the Willard defense recorded the team’s fifth shutout of the season. One of Central’s best scoring chances occurred late in the match when senior captain Jack Brinkman hit the crossbar on a 25-yard free kick.
Willard improved to 8-1 overall with the victory. However, the difficulty scale is about to go up.
Willard will host new Central Ozark Conference member Kickapoo on Tuesday, followed by a road match at 2023 Class 4 district champion Ozark on Thursday. Willard will also play three games in its home tournament (Sept. 20-21) next weekend.
“It’s been a big start for us, but we know the schedule coming up is going to get a lot tougher,” Troutt said. “We just have to push through it and see how it goes.”
The Tigers are two wins away from surpassing their 2023 win total.
“The kids’ confidence is right where it needs to be,” Waddell said. “I think they’re still hungry. These games are building to our ultimate goal, and that’s a district title. We have a gauntlet of a district. Hopefully our confidence continues to grow.”
Central (3-4 overall) will look to rebound on Tuesday afternoon in a home match against Greenwood.
