By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
When Nathan Loewen joined Carl Junction’s boys soccer program as an assistant two years ago, the Bulldogs were a five-win team.
Now they’re coming off a 20-5 season – and chasing their first district title since 2016.
Promoted to head coach in February, Loewen now leads a roster with nine returning starters and an 11-player senior class that came within a goal of that elusive title last fall.
But losing to perennial power Springfield Catholic in the championship game has only fueled the returning Bulldogs, who are looking to finish the job this season.
“It will be an incredibly difficult task to return to a district championship,” Loewen said. “Our seniors have experienced a few years of losing a lot of games, so they’re no strangers to fighting through adversity. Our goal is to get back to that game for another shot to go to the state tournament.”
The Class of 2026 – who watched the Bulldogs win just 20 total games from 2021 to 2023 – helped match that total in a single, record-setting season last fall.
The Carl Junction program had never won more than four games in a row, until the Bulldogs opened the 2024 season on a nine-game winning streak.
Another sign of their transformation came in October, when they rebounded from a three-game skid with seven straight wins.
“There are athletes who will stop trying when losses start to stack up, but the 20-5 record is a credit to the character of our team,” Loewen said. “They worked hard and earned every win.”
Last year’s seniors were an integral part of their success, as they were responsible for 79 of the team’s 100 goals. But their impact goes beyond the box score – and is still felt today.
“What stands out most in my mind is the way that they trained in practice,” Loewen said. “I really appreciated their willingness to work hard every day to get better and that mentality has been passed on and is evident in this year’s senior class as well.”
Three of those rising seniors – defender Ryan Landolt, keeper Blake Miller and forward Nolan Couk – are coming off all-district seasons.
Loewen on Landolt: “He is composed defensively and has earned the staff’s trust to manipulate our shape as well as organize our defense during set pieces.”
Loewen on Miller: “I am really proud of the way that he leads from the back. He’s always organizing, composed when we make mistakes (and) encouraging even when we give up chances we shouldn’t.”
Loewen on Couk, the team’s top returning scorer: “Nolan’s physicality makes him a menace with the ball at his feet, and he has worked hard to have a sixth sense for finding space to get a shot off.”
Classmates Zack Teeter, Kale Trosper, Elliott Parker and Sam Hammond will also look to finish their high school careers on a high note.
Loewen on Teeter: “An incredibly hard worker on the field. He’s capable of playing multiple positions and is especially disruptive on defense. Last year he was tasked with man marking every other team’s best player.”
Loewen on Trosper, a midfielder: “He is a gifted communicator and a natural leader. His teammates follow him joyfully and he uses his influence to serve others. Kale also wrestles and uses that physicality to stay on the ball offensively and defensively.”
Loewen on Parker: “Capable of playing almost any position. His energy levels are off the charts and uses that as a pest defensively as well as making long and difficult runs to support the ball on offense.”
Loewen on Hammond: “Might be the most selfless athlete I know. He will gladly serve left footed crosses into other all day and take some of the most difficult defensive assignments without complaining. As a left footed forward, he has all the skills to be our top scorer – and will gladly do the dirty work and let others finish the chances he creates.”
Freshman Jaiden Walker is also expected to be an impact player for the Bulldogs this fall.
“He plays at fullback and outside forward, using his speed to attack and defend,” Loewen said. “The team really loves his work ethic and celebrates his willingness to defend other team’s good players. We’re all excited to see Jaiden get on the scoresheet this year.”
Loewen is also eager to foster the relationship between the varsity club and CJFC, the town’s youth soccer program that has nearly 600 players.
“Those players are beginning to enter the program at the high school level,” Loewen said. “There is a whole structure within that program that has been training young athletes to become good soccer players for a long time, and I’m really excited to get to work with both the high school athletes and the coaches and parents who have been investing in these boys for a long time.”
The Bulldogs will travel to Carthage for an August 25 jamboree with the Tigers, New Heights and Webb City. They will open the regular season September 2 at Webb City.
“We want to be a physically tough team, doing the hard things even at the end of the games that make a difference,” Loewen said. “We want to be known as fun to play against and officiate.”
