Indians soccer set for historic week

The dream season continues for the No. 1-ranked Indians, who secured a relatively easy 6-0 region win at Athens Christian on Thursday to close out the regular season.

“It was a very physical match after a 2-hour rain delay,” Indians coach Jeremy Stille said. “The boys were able to move the ball well and were successful in breaking down Athens Christian’s 7-man defensive line six times, with 2 being from the PK spot, showing how physical the game was.”

Jake Hall punched in 2 goals, while Brit Shaw and Laith Reynolds added PK goals. Jake Wehrstein and Austin Ball also scored. Kelton Reynolds secured another shutout and had to convert just one save, though he helped move the ball around with the defensive line throughout the contest. He was rarely in any trouble.

The Indians closed the regular season undefeated at 15-0 and 10-0 in region play, and will open the state playoffs at home against Darlington at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The Indians have crushed school records in wins (15), goals (108), goals allowed (3), and shutouts (12). Meanwhile, junior Austin Ball set the single-match, single-season, career goals marks in 2023. He has 38 goals this year and 51 for his career, and also has a single-season record 15 assists so far.

Seniors Jake Hall (26 G, 10 A) and Simeon Conjagic (6 G, 10 A), junior Luis Varona Pastor (9 G), and sophomores Landon Hall (10 G, 11 A) and Clay Kafsky (6 G, 12 A) are key offensive weapons for the Indians.

Kelton Reynolds now has 12 shutouts on the season and 16 in his career as just a sophomore, and his 69 saves this season are a single-season record. Reynolds isn’t tested often with an elite backline that features juniors Jake Wehrstein and Brit Shaw, and midfielders Jared Mullis and Jake Hall have been key to posting clean sheets.

Darlington is an 8-5 team, and carry a 4-2 record in away matches. The Tigers have 33 goals on the season (2.5 per game), and have allowed 24 goals.

The Indians are playing in their third straight state playoffs, though a win over Darlington would get TFS past the opening round for the first time in school history.

Lady Indians hope to move on

History continued for TFS girls soccer on Thursday at Athens Christian in a 10-0 win that came with a lengthy lightning delay. In the regular season finale, Addie Higbie set yet another single-game goals record, and Tessa Foor set the single-match assists record as well.

It was a 6-0 lead at the break, and the No. 8-ranked Lady Indians piled on 4 more goals the rest of the way. The goalkeeping by Kyndal Anderson was phenomenal once again, as was the back line. Higbie notched 7 goals, passing her own previous record of 6 in a single game. Foor had 4 assists, making a new single-game record.

“After over a week since our last match, I had some concerns about how we would rebound,” Lady Indians coach Travis Mullis said. “Fortunately, the girls were dedicated to attending a practice before the game, and that really paid off I think. Their willingness to prepare to play and then compete tonight during their Spring Break speaks volumes about their desire to play and be successful.”

Of the records set, Mullis was proud of his players’ accomplishments along the way.

“Addie’s 7 goals are one that anyone would do a double-take over,” Mullis says. “Tessa’s 4 assists, I think most coaches would want a player with that as an objective because it means more goals are on the other end. To achieve multiple goals and assists means that other players are doing their roles exceptionally well. Players like Maddie Mullis who not only make defensive stops but also starts the attack, midfielders like Lily Desta and Elsa Sanchez who help our team become responsive instead of reactive through consistently providing accurate and thoughtful passing. These girls and others help make winning possible.”

The 11 wins matches last season’s total, which is tied for the program high mark. Higbie has stolen the show with an unforgettable senior season that includes a current count of 40 goals and 5 assists.

The Lady Indians rode a 4-match win streak heading into their home playoff match, and have 75 goals scored (school record), which comes out to 5.4 per game. Defensively, the girls allow 2.1 per contest and have 6 clean sheet wins (ties the school single-season record). Kyndal Anderson, who has 12 career shutouts, has been reliable and consistent, while the defensive backline as a unit has been solid.

Foor (11 assists, 3 G) is a great distributor, as are Maddie Mullis (5 G) and Bailey Crumley (7 assists each). Maddie LeBlanc (4 A, 1 G), Gemma Farris (12 G, 4 A), and several others like Josie Chesser have been crucial playmakers.

TFS finished the regular season 11-3 and hosted Trion after press time Tuesday. 

– Brian Carter