By Tyler F. Thompson (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Bolivar boys soccer head coach Jason Ingold enters his second year at the helm of the Liberators.
Last year, the team tallied a 19-4 overall record and return 11 letterman this fall.
A nice way to kickstart the new era, indeed.
The Liberators, who took runner-up honors last year with an 11-player senior class in Class 2 District 5, are hungry and eyeing a deeper postseason run this go-round.
A core of five returning seniors will serve as a large chunk of the attack this fall, as Wyatt Viles (GK); Soren Bachman (MF); Canyon Adams (F); Matt Giglio (All-State midfielder); and Brayden Burke (All-State defender) look to close out their prep careers as district champs.
Giglio led the team last year in goals (20) and assists (11).
“All contributed on the varsity level last year,” Ingold said of his returning core. “A good group of seniors.”
Last year, the offense netted 3.8 goals per game and 2.7 assists — totaling 88 goals and 63 assists overall.
Defensively, the team allowed 16 goals while saving 61.
But it is not just about the seniors.
This year, a “fairly large incoming junior class” figures to balance out the equation, Ingold said.
“Many of them got some time last year. Some started, some didn’t,” he said. “I would expect all of their roles to increase. [Also] have some good freshmen and sophomores coming in, as well.”
The Liberators have undergone a program shift the past two years, as longtime coach Steve Fast gave way to Ingold last year.
Now, the foundation has been set and the structure is coming into view for both the coaches and players.
“There was a lot of turnover and change,” Ingold said of 2024. “Coming back, kind of re-lay the foundation for the program. Went through a lot of newness, so I am excited to see the returning kids come back and have an understanding of how we do things. Instead of starting all over we are hitting the ground running [this year.”
The Liberators are banking on another offseason to promote chemistry and communication as they look to make their mark on the Ozark Mountain Conference.
The schedule this year has been tweaked, with some new opponents, Ingold said.
One change is the season-opening tournament in Sedalia Aug. 29-30.
Teams currently committed to the Sedalia tournament: Smith-Cotton, Bolivar, Odessa, Marshall, Sacred Heart, Northeast KC and Clinton.
“That will challenge us a little bit,” Ingold said. “Outside of the field, that is something else I believe in, spending a ton of time together. We will make it an overnight tournament. Everyone is in the same hotel. We will do some team building.”
This fall, it is more than just additional wins, as camaraderie is another intangible the team is banking on this fall.
“Our expectation is to build upon what we did last year,” Ingold said. “To me, that is not always in the win column. One is in the quality of how we play, but then second, it is the lessons that we are learning, whether that is on or off the field. We have a ton of support from the community and the school and the parents, but really trying to leave a lasting impression on these young men. We have a lot of good guys who are solid young men.”
The preseason jamboree is slated for Aug. 25 at Lebanon.
The Liberators are coming off a season in which they were co-champions in their inaugural season in the Ozark Mountain Conference.
Bolivar won the Willard tournament and placed first in the Fast-Edge Soccer Classic, all the while tying a program record for consecutive wins in one season (19).
