It’s been a tough stretch for the GHS boys’ soccer team, going all the way back to last season’s forgettable record that featured just one win. The Bulldogs also began the 2018 season with a string of six defeats, including a run of five consecutive shutout losses.
But things have started to turn around lately, as Greenwood has won three of its last four matches for new head coach Lukas Shoemaker. The players just may be settling in to his style of soccer.
Shoemaker was hired away from Siloam Springs, where he served as assistant coach for one of the best overall soccer programs in the state, hoping to bring some of that magic and tradition to the Bulldogs. But it will take time, patience, and lots of hard work for players and coaches alike.
Just prior to spring break, the ‘Dogs notched wins over Dardanelle, Poteau (OK), and Huntsville, sandwiched around their seventh overall defeat to Class 7A Conway. Their 6-1 loss to the Wampus Cats is the only match this season where Greenwood has been blown out. Every other match has been decided by three goals or less.
After falling 3-0 at Fayetteville on March 8th, the Bulldogs met Putnam City West of OKC on March 9th in tournament play (River Valley Cup) and lost a heartbreaker, 1-0. The match was held at Van Buren’s Blakemore Field.
The next day the GHS boys returned to the same venue and fell 3-0 to Holland Hall of Tulsa, Oklahoma, also losing to the same team 2-0 earlier in the season.
But on the same day the Bulldogs began turning around their season with a 1-0 victory over the Dardanelle Sand Lizards, also in River Valley Cup play. The match was scoreless at the half, but a second half goal and some strong defense by Greenwood proved to be just enough for the win.
Three days later, on March 13th, a similar formula proved equally successful against the Poteau Pirates from across the state line, giving the ‘Dogs a modest two-game win streak.
But the powerful Wampus Cats came to Smith-Robinson Stadium on March 15th and riddled the GHS defense with six first half goals. The Bulldogs scored just once, in the second half of the 6-1 loss.
But Greenwood won for the third time in its past four matches as the Bulldogs used three first-half goals on their way to a 6-0 win over conference foe Huntsville on March 16th.
GHS senior forward Wyatt Manes got the Bulldogs on the scoreboard early with a goal just eight minutes into the match. Then less than two minutes later, senior forward Max Bailey scored Greenwood’s second goal for a 2-0 lead.
The Bulldogs then extended their advantage to 3-0 on a scoring netter from senior Kade Orlicek, set up by a corner kick.
Then soon after the intermission, a cross pass from GHS junior midfielder Ramiro Morales set up Bailey for his second scoring shot. Bailey then added a third goal with just over 13 minutes remaining for his own personal hat trick.
Nearly two minutes after that, Manes took a pass from freshman Riley Wann and delivered his second goal of the match to finalize the 6-0 victory.
After a short time off, the Bulldogs used spring break to practice and get ready for the remainder of the regular season and conference play, which resumed this past Tuesday night at Clarksville. Results were not available at press time.
The Bulldogs then host Siloam Springs at Smith-Robinson Stadium on Thursday at 7 p.m. and host Harrison next Friday at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Bulldogs will also play just prior to the boys’ matches.