By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Nixa boys soccer program was a goal away from a district title last fall.
This year’s goal is winning one.
The Eagles return eight starters from the team that finished 16-9 and fell to Glendale on a golden goal in the championship game – and they haven’t forgotten how the season ended.
“The loss to Glendale was tough, those sudden losses in overtime are such a shock,” Nixa coach Evan Palmer said. “The boys were upset. We really wanted that win for our seniors, but that is what we have been using as motivation in the off-season. Summer workouts have been great, our numbers are high. The players are very motivated and working hard.”
While the players on this year’s squad are largely the same, there’s a key difference.
Those players are now largely juniors and seniors – and the added year of varsity experience has given them a skill that was not as prevalent just one year ago.
“The biggest thing we need is poise under pressure,” Palmer said. “Overall, we were on the young side last year, with many sophomores and a freshman starting. So this year, as we are older, we need to make better decisions in tight games.”
The Eagles will turn to their returning seniors to set the tone, and they have a trio of players who earned postseason honors last fall. Keegan Pycior, Conner Shaar and Mason Adair were named to the all-conference team, while Adair was also an all-district selection.
Pycior, a forward, led the Eagles with 18 goals.
“Keagan is crafty with the ball and tough to defend,” Palmer said.
Shaar, a midfielder/defender, will help anchor the defense.
“He will probably be our center back, very strong physically but skilled on the ball as well,” Palmer said.
Adair, the goalkeeper, had a role in 11 clean sheets last fall.
“He is a dominant figure in the box and has grown as a player and leader in the back,” Palmer said.
Seniors Cameron Abernathy (defender), Malachi Horton (midfield) and Logan Huff (forward) will also be de facto leaders of the Eagles.
Palmer on Abernathy: “Great touch on the ball, strong competitor.”
Palmer on Horton: “Malachi was hurt a lot of last year but has come out and is in great shape and playing well. He will get a lot of minutes this year.”
Palmer on Huff: “Logan continues to improve. His skills and tactical awareness get better every day. He gets up and down the wing quickly, which helps us on both ends of the field.”
Forward/midfielder Spencer Renne made an immediate impact as a freshman, finishing third on the team with 10 goals. He’s expected to have an even bigger year in his sophomore season.
“He has excellent touch and reads the field well,” Palmer said. “He will be tough for other teams to slow down.”
The Eagles will also rely on a large junior class, as midfielder Jacob Harvey, midfielder/forward Gavin Shaw, midfielder Ryker Pabst, forward Sergio Zaragoza, goalkeeper Jackson Smith, defender Sam Krans, midfielder/forward Jackson Lutzke, defender Gavin Benscoter and defender/midfielder Thatcher Stubblefield will all be expected to contribute this fall.
Palmer on Harvey: “ He is very strong on the ball and it is tough to get it away from him. He is smart with it as well and finds his teammates in good spaces.”
Palmer on Shaw: “He has a knack for finding the ball in the right spaces and making things happen.”
Palmer on Pabst: “Ryker was a move in from South Carolina and was dominant from day one. He is so tough to dispossess and distributes the ball well. He has great movement off the ball as well and is very hard to defend.”
Palmer on Zaragoza: “He continues to improve and has looked good this summer. We can utilize Sergio in the midfield or up top. I see him scoring many goals this year.”
Palmer on Smith: “An excellent goalie, his technical skills are excellent and he is making great decisions this summer.”
Palmer on Krans:” Sam played mostly in the back and that is where he will probably be this fall. He is very smart and is an excellent passer. He has a great chance to start this year.”
Palmer on Lutzke: “Excellent athlete whose touch gets better and better.”
Palmer on Benscoter: “He is a strong defender. Very tough to beat and has great vision”
Palmer on Stubblefield: “Strong player that can play on the outside wing or on the back line.”
With so many returning players, roster spots are few and far between. But Palmer said senior Spencer Livengood and sophomores Carson Larimer and Liam Rose could push for playing time.
The Eagles will travel to Kickapoo for an August 26 jamboree against the hosts and Glendale. Their regular-season and home opener is three days later against Hickman.
“When other teams see Nixa on their schedule they better know that they are in for a battle,” Palmer said. “We want to be relentless for 80 minutes or more. We want to pressure the other team into mistakes and then we need to take advantage of those mistakes.”
