GREENFIELD — A year ago at this time, the Greenfield-Central boys soccer team was simply perfect.
The 2019 Cougars ran out to a flawless 3-0 start and turned that dominance into a 7-0 record before absorbing their first loss in mid-September against Illinois’ Highland Park.
Greenfield-Central’s first setback to an Indiana high school program didn’t unfold until early October last season, which sparked another string of victories, an outright Hoosier Heritage Conference championship and a regional final appearance against eventual undefeated Class 3A state champion Zionsville.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryOverall, the Cougars finished the season 19-2, they were 7-0 in the HHC, retained the league’s coveted traveling “Bell” trophy and captured the program’s fourth consecutive sectional title.
In the process, the team’s leading goal-scorer Zack Bell and also Caleb Mundell earned ISCA All-State honors.
It was a banner year for the Cougars with 95 goals scored and 84 assists dished out collectively. The offense averaged 4.5 goals per match and limited opponents to 0.922 goals allowed on average.
But, that was then, and this is a new chapter, minus 83 of those goals and 63 of those assists with the graduations of nine players from the roster, including four starting defenders and all-state honorable mention Tyler Murphy.
“We are not a team who backs into the future, looking forward to the past,” G-C head coach Bobby Holden said. “Though we are grateful for the success we’ve had the previous few seasons, we know, just like each of those seasons, our work is cut out for us, again.
“We are playing a much tougher schedule this season that is designed to push us hard in preparation for our tough conference and sectional.”
Through the non-conference portion of the 2020 season, the revamped program’s development has been a learning process.
At 0-4 prior to Tuesday night’s home match with Plainfield, the Cougars have netted three goals, but it’s the journey not the beginning that will define the team’s final destination.
“The great thing about this year’s squad is that even though there may be new faces to the teams we play, most every face we will have on the field are not new to our program,” Holden said.
“Players such as Logan Masters, Hunter Stine, Bryce Kinnaman, Jacob Blevens and Grayson Bishop are familiar to our program and will play key roles in our success this season.”
Even more so are the holdovers from last season.
The Cougars’ most-decorated returning assets are senior goalkeeper Abe Buescher (eight shutouts and 16 wins), who earned second team all-state honors, and junior John Halverson, a second team all-district midfielder in 2019.
The duo are accompanied by seniors Jackson Findley, Derek Owen and Carson Jones — all crucial returning starters.
“We have a lot of growth to go. Obviously, 2020 has been a strange year to say the least, and that holds true for us as well,” G-C assistant coach Matt McConnell said. “Our top aim is to keep everyone healthy for the season. In a world marred by a pandemic though, it promises to be a challenge. Beyond the pandemic, though, we graduated a lot of fantastic talent, who have been key figures in our program for four seasons. Replacing them will be a challenge to say the least.”
So far, the Cougars have become accustomed to adversity — as most have the past five months — with minimal summer conditioning prior to July and next to zero traditional club soccer competition.
With COVID-19 safety guidelines and procedures thrown in, it’s been an adjustment, but nothing the Cougars are taking lightly.
“Training has been really been different for us, as it has been for everyone,” Holden said. “It requires a bit more diligence from all coaching staffs to ensure we keep our players safe. And, make no mistake, a safe environment is our first goal.
“We are a program that counts on the summer to help solidify our squad. Unfortunately, like everyone else, we didn’t get that time. The compressed training schedule has been difficult and we are certainly looking forward to settling into our groove as the season progresses.”
In reality, the true season begins on Sept. 1, when the Cougars travel to Pendleton Heights to open HHC play.
Non-conference losses to Hamilton Southeastern, 8-0 (scrimmage); Lawrence North, 3-2; Noblesville, 4-0; East Central (5-3 shootout); and Franklin Central 2-0; have minimal bearing at the moment.
“The HHC is always tough. We’ve had a few seasons of success, but we know every single game is a battle,” Holden said. “Each match feels like a rivalry game and you cannot take a single play off. Mt. Vernon and New Palestine are always great matches. We love playing rivalry games with them, and we know they are going to come to play.”
The key word is: play. As long as the games continue, so will the Cougars’ fine-tuning in anticipation of another potential deep run into late October.
“After watching the spring sports season get cancelled for so many high school students, we are certainly grateful,” Holden said. “We know playing is not a guarantee, so we are enjoying each moment we get and taking things day by day. Simply put, we play for each other. We call it, the soccer ‘family’ and that’s what these boys are, on the field and off the field. We are hopeful for a good season, but we know our work is cut out for us.”
