Sanderson boys soccer
FILE PHOTO
Sanderson head coach Todd Worley (right) talks with members of his boys soccer team during an early-season game. The Spartans advanced to the second round of the playoffs before falling to Green Hope 2-1 in overtime Saturday. It was the last game for 12 Sanderson seniors.
Spartans' season comes to an end
Green Hope notches playoff win in overtime
Monday, two days after the Sanderson soccer team's 2-1 overtime loss at Green Hope in the second round of the 4-A state playoffs, coach Todd Worley said the Spartans' defeat — and its effect — was still setting in.
The loss ended Sanderson's season at 17-6-3, but more importantly marked the final game for a dozen Spartan seniors. It's a group which experienced remarkable success during their four-year high school careers. In each of the past four seasons, Sanderson has advanced to the second round of the playoffs or beyond.
"Today was a pretty depressing day knowing I will never coach them again," Worley said by phone Monday night. "I was very lucky to be able to coach a group of players like this."
Sanderson's senior class is comprised of Casey Francis, John Perfetti, Nick Cioffi, Jacob Mouw, Glenn Scott, Taylor Wyatt, Jackson Parker, Paul Houston, J.P. Rafferty, Dustin Hatcher, Sam Pollan and Matt Boyd.
The Spartans found themselves in a tough fight Saturday, battling the Tri-9 Conference champion Green Hope, which is ranked No. 7 in the state.
And early on the Falcons got the better of his squad, Worley said.
"Although it was 0-0 in the first half, they were by far the better team," the coach explained.
In the second half, Green Hope jumped ahead 1-0, but the Spartans responded just eight minutes later as Scott nailed a header perfectly from about eight yards out.
Coincidentally, Scott's goal was almost the exact spot where the Falcons nailed the game winner in overtime, Worley said.
"It was a real pretty goal," the coach shrugged, recalling Green Hope's second goal.
While Sanderson's season might have ended, Worley left impressed with his squad's resiliency — even in defeat.
"I thought in the second half and the overtime periods, we played great," he said. "Our players really got after it. We had many opportunities, but in the end they scored and we didn't."
While Sanderson struggled in a 1-0 win over Middle Creek in the first round of the playoffs, the Spartans played with great emotion Saturday.
The squad got a lift from the return of Parker to the defensive backfield. The senior sat out against the Mustangs due to an arm injury, but played with a big cast in the season finale.
"The reason we were able to get some attacks in the second half was because Jackson was back there," the coach explained. And it helped Scott get his shot on-goal.
Scott finished with 31 goals this season, and Rafferty added 17 goals and 18 assists. Wyatt recorded six goals and 14 assists and Francis had seven scores and eight assists.
"We are losing a lot of great players and great people," Worley said of his dozen seniors. "I'm going to miss them."
Though the coach admitted Sunday afternoon he spent time drawing up lineups for next year, already figuring out where the Spartans need to build on this year's success.
