Coming into this season, the Park Hill South boys soccer team is shaping up to be one of the top teams in the metro. This not only based on their surprising 20-6 record last season as a young and inexperienced group, but also the fact they return almost all of that team again this year. Coach Joe Toigo says his team won some games last year that the other team didn’t necessarily think they should have lost, but South expects to have the upper-hand and more control over their destiny this season.
“A lot of teams last year thought they should have beat us, but we won a couple in penalty kicks. We’re hoping more than last year that we’ll be able to make teams play us instead of us play them. Hope to physically be a little better and hold the ball on their end more,” Toigo said.
Leading a more experienced, but still young squad this year will be four seniors. Central defender Sam Tuggle, outside defender Ethan Robb, wing Tyler Easton, and Robert Geary. All Toigo says have a lot of experience and could play in college if they want. Also coming back are junior forwards Brody Bouillion (6 goals, 4 assists) and Alex Weatherly (10 goals, 12 assists). Sophomore Josh Hall and Nick Smith will play big roles in regards to controlling the tempo of the game as the midfield positions.
“They’re all very good soccer players, very versatile and can play a lot of different positions. Not the traditional one position players,” Toigo said. “We’re hoping this is something we can building and carry on for several years.”
Heath Turner, his eleven shutouts and 118 saves return at goalie, while a starter last year, the 6’4” last resort of protection put a strong focus on camps and clinics in the offseason to become what his coach describes as one of the team’s most improved players.
The Panthers will kick things off at the competitive Olathe Tournament where they’ve seen success in the past. They’ll likely see strong contention from Belton and Fort Osage as they defend their conference title. Liberty, Oak Park, and Park Hill highlight benchmark games in the schedule. Traveling to St. Louis for the Gateway Classic will expose South to three very good out of town teams with three different styles of play as a good tune-up for postseason play.
Most important though is breaking a three year district title drought that has left them as runners-up and on the sidelines from the Missouri state playoffs.
“If we do what we’re supposed to do early, then we don’t have to worry about the dramatics at the end (like last year),” Toigo said. “The attacking players are there. The potential is there. These guys could become a very good team. We just have to nurture it.”
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