The Branson boys’ soccer team is looking to rewrite the record books this fall, hoping to win the Conference and District championships for the first time in school history.
It helps, that the guy leading their team has a few school records of his own, and is aiming for more.
Coming into his senior year at Branson, Carlton Epps was just five goals away from having the most goals in school history.
“At the beginning of the season, it was a lot of pressure,” Epps said.
Carlton turned that pressure into action, becoming Branson’s leading goal scorer in September by scoring his 78th career goal.
“I needed three to break it, two to tie and I think I ended up getting three that game,” the Pirate Senior added.
Carlton’s no stranger to rewriting history. His 44 goals in his junior year set the single-season goals record.
He’s also the all-time assists leader and holds the all-time career points record.
“He is comfortable with either foot, which is probably the greatest attribute for a soccer player. He’s very good at keeping the ball close to him, he doesn’t allow other people to get into his space with the ball and he sees the play early,” said Branson Head Soccer Coach David Brenner.
Carlton’s dedication to getting better started at a young age, when his dad put him in with the older kids.
“He automatically set me at that higher standard because he would have me play up with my brother, on my sister’s coed team,” Epps said.
By the time he got to high school, Carlton was ready to play with the best as he has played varsity all four years under Coach Brenner.
“It’s amazing. Watching Carlton grow I knew that he was going to be something special,” said Brenner.
Carlton sits at 97 goals with four regular season games and playoffs remaining, and he hopes the end of this chapter is just the beginning to another.
“I know I want to play soccer after high school, and knowing that I have the capability to overcome challenges on top of breaking records, and helping my team overall is just a good feeling because I know that if I continue that track and continue my perseverance that I can go places,” said Epps.
If Carlton plays out the rest of the regular season, he’ll have the most varsity games played by any Pirate.
