A group of 50 youngsters showed off their prowess on the soccer fields this fall. IOLA’S 14-and-under team downed Louisburg behind two goals and an assist by Matt Karr, one goal each by Chloe Gardner and Bret Plumlee and an assist by Zack Kress. Parker Smith had four saves in goal and Plumlee two. THE 12-and-under crew downed Louisburg-Selenke courtesy of three goals and an assist from Jack Adams, a goal by Riley Jay and two assists from Hannah Gardner. Plumlee had four saves. ULRICH noted Iola’s 10-and-under squad was classified as such by name only.
Now, organizers are eager to see the soccer program expand even further.
Three teams from Iola capped successful seasons with a tournament at the Paola Fall Soccer League Oct. 26 and 27.
Iola’s 14-and-under squad put the finishing touches on a 12-0 season with wins of 4-0 over Louisburg, 4-1 over Spring Hill and 4-1 over LaCygne.
Iola’s 12-and-under group went 3-0 in the tournament, downing Louisburg-Selenke, 4-1, and LaCygne-Stahl twice, by scores of 3-1 and 3-2. The wins came after the team went 9-0-1 to take first in regular season play as well.
The 10-and-under team went 2-2 in the tournament for second place. Iola defeated the LaCygne All-Stars twice, 4-3 and 2-0, before falling to the same team, 2-0 and 2-1 on Sunday. The 2-2 mark came after Iola went 6-1 to top the regular season standings.
“The kids have really done a great job,” said Brek Ulrich, who coaches and oversees the teams. He also organized Iola’s participation in the Paola league.
Ulrich said plans are in the works to expand to older and younger teams in the spring.
“We will have a 19-and-under, 5-on-5 team.
Ulrich’s goal is to see as many as 75 youths participating by the spring.
“We would love to have soccer in high school,” he said.
A balanced scoring attack keyed the win over Spring Hill. Gardner and Nolan Jones each had one goal and one assist. Karr also scored a goal, as did Kori Babcock. Kress had an assist. Plumlee had three saves.
The 4-1 win over LaCygne featured goals by Karr, Gardner, Collin Bedell and Jones. Bedell also had two assists. Jones and Gardner had one assist each. Plumlee had six saves.
Hannah Gardner scored twice and had an assist in the 3-1 win over LaCygne-Stahl. Jay also had a goal. Adams had two assists. Plumlee had nine saves.
In the other win over LaCygne-Stahl, Hannah Gardner scored twice, while Jay added a goal. Adams had two assists. Royce Smith had 10 saves and Plumlee three.
“It was outstanding defensive effort in the last half of the championship,” Ulrich said. “Pieter Venter, Lexi Vega, Josie Plumlee and Sydney Keagle helped us play a man down to preserve the win.”
“Six of our 10 players on the team should actually be in the 8-and-under group,” he said. “But we still got first in league and second in the tournament.”
In Iola’s 4-3 win, Eli Adams scored twice. Logan Ulrich had a goal and an assist. Joseph Karr scored once and Will Talkington had an assist. T.J. Taylor had eight saves. Brandon McKarnin had two saves. Eli Adams, Talkington and Carter Wilson had one save apiece.
Taylor had seven saves to preserve Iola’s 2-0 win. Logan Ulrich and Eli Adams both had one goal and one assist.
Taylor had eight saves Sunday in the 2-0 loss and 11 in the 2-1 defeat. Eli Adams scored the lone goal on a Logan Ulrich assist in the finale.
“T.J. Taylor was outstanding in goal,” Ulrich said. “Brandon McKarnin was great at defense, while Eli Adams, Casey McKarnin, Joseph Karr, Sage Shaughnessy, Will Talkington and William Jay were great all season. Logan was the only girl and the team captain. She did everything I asked.”
Iola youth soccer teams wrap up fall season titles
