Perryville boys soccer team takes on new role in return to final four

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- There's a motto that's been the cornerstone of this year's Perryville boys soccer team.

"New team. Same dream."

The Pirates lost all but three starters from last year's squad, a team that finished 28-1 and outscored its opponents 25-3 in the postseason en route to claiming the Class 2 state crown.

Four of Perryville's departed starters were first-team all-state selections, and replacing that production proved to be the biggest hurdle in replicating last year's success.

Yet, the Pirates are in the final four. It's the same position they were a year ago, and it's evidence that the objective isn't what it used to be.

Perryville coach Jerry Fulton the team during a drill at practice Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2014 in Perryville. (Glenn Landberg)

"We expect it now," senior captain Eann Bergman said. "There are more expecations to win it, too, from everyone. Last year, we were kind of the underdogs because we had never been there before. This year, it's our second year in a row, and everyone is looking at us as kind of the frontrunners."

Perryville (23-4) begins play against Southern Boone (25-1-1) at 2 p.m. today at the World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton, Missouri. The Pirates are the fourth-ranked team in the Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association Class 2 state rankings while the Eagles are ranked No. 2. The winner advances to the state championship game against either fifth-ranked St. Francis Borgia (19-4-1) or 10th-ranked O'Hara (20-7) at 4 p.m. Saturday. The third-place game is scheduled for noon.

"It's a totally different, new group of guys," Perryville coach Jerry Fulton said. "... It's just been wonderful. The juniors that came up as a group, you can't say enough for them that we were able to keep them on JV and bring them all up together, and it's made a huge difference for this team.

"I think the guys that were there last year really have talked and expressed the feelings of how it was and what it took to do it, and now those other guys want their opportunity."

One thing that's remained a constant for Perryville is a stifling defense.

Perryville coach Jerry Fulton talks with the team during a drill at practice Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2014 in Perryville. (Glenn Landberg)

Over the last two years, the Pirates have recorded shutouts in 58 percent of their games. They allowed an average of 0.5 goals per game last season and are giving up 0.7 goals per game this year. Perryville has 14 shutouts on the season and has outscored its opponents in the postseason by a combined score of 18-2.

Only one of the Pirates' four defenders, junior Dylan Jannin, is a returning starter. Jannin transitioned from stopper to sweeper, and Fulton referred to him as "the glue that holds everything together."

"I know Dylan Jannin's been a blessing back at sweeper, but I really think it's just been the four guys back there who have pulled together and said, 'We're going to do this,'" Fulton said. "Every one of those gentlemen have had an awesome year."

That defensive group includes Austin Hotop. The junior midfielder was tasked with switching to the backfield to replace senior Nate Noland, a returning starter whose season ended after suffering a stress fracture in his foot. Sophomore Kwaid Fears and senior Ryan Noland are also starters on defense.

"Basically, it's a new defense because none of them have played together," Fulton said. "... Ryan Noland's played as a senior. He's provided leadership back there and has led them by example. Austin Hotop, being the new part of the defense back there, came in and has stepped up to the challenge and done well. Kwaid Fears was on the team last year in more of a subbing stance but has stepped into that sweeper role."

The Pirates were also saddled with replacing a first-team all-state selection and reigning Class 2 Goalkeeper of the Year in Luke Dobbelare.

Perryville's goalie Trent Unterreiner talks about his excitement for the state tournament during practice Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2014 in Perryville. (Glenn Landberg)

In comes sophomore Trent Unterreiner, whose competitive nature is everything Fulton expects from his netminder.

"He wants to be in the game," Fulton said. "I remember when we were playing Belleville West (Ill.), a really good team, in the Gateway Classic. They were the real deal. They were a huge school, two or three times the size of us, and Trent was like, 'Coach, we want to go to a shootout. If we go to a shootout, I'll win this thing.' And I'm like, 'Trent, you're an idiot. We never want to go to a shootout,' but you know what? We go to a shootout, and he made the stops and won that thing.

"I honestly believe that's when I saw Trent step up and become the goalkeeper that we needed."

Less than a week after that win over Belleville West, Perryville dropped back-to-back games, a 4-1 decision against Farmington on Oct. 7 and a 1-0 loss in overtime against Borgia on Oct. 8.

The Pirates haven't lost since, winning seven straight, and Fulton said he saw a drastic change in his team's demeanor.

"It was just that we weren't playing as a unit. We had a little bit of squabbling going on amongst ourselves. All that went away, and they've settled in and focused," Fulton said. "We've always said, 'It's one game at a time. You've got to stay focused. You can't do anything unless you get out of districts, so that's your No. 1 goal.' I gave these guys a list of goals before the season, and they took them to heart and achieved them one at a time."

Senior Kyle Wood is a team captain and returning starter at midfield, but the unit has received a welcomed surprise with the emergence of freshman Cole Gerstenberger.

Reigning Class 2 Player of the Year Matt Moran left a glaring void as a center midfielder, and Gerstenberger has done more than just manage. Perhaps the most defining moment of his brief career came in the district championship game when he provided both of Perryville's goals from 20 yards out in the first half.

"I don't think I've seen a freshman that good," Bergman said. "Nothing seems to bother him. In the district championship game, he didn't get nervous or anything. ... He plays the way those guys did last year, and we really didn't expect anyone to do it that fast."

Junior Jacob Sparkman and senior Pablo Mattingly also start at midfield while Bergman and senior Emilio Mattingly start at forward.

The Mattingly twins are also team captains, and Fulton has been most impressed by their work ethic.

"There's probably nobody on the team with better ball skills than the Mattingly twins," Fulton said. "All summer long, you'd come out here, and they'd be out here working on their own, just those two."

Bergman was a second-team all-state selection a year ago and the only returning player with that honor. He believes the work ethic from last year's team was carried over by the senior leaders this season, and it all began June 1, the first day of summer practice.

"The seniors last year would get us working in the summer and make us start working earlier than everyone else, so we started getting the team together in the first weeks of the summer," Bergman said. "... As soon as we won it, we knew that next year would be so much bigger and more magnified because everyone knows our name now."

Returning to the final four hasn't been easy for the nine players who were on last year's state championship team, but Fulton said he's been mesmerized by how his team has handled the pressure, remaining committed to bringing home another state title.

"When this team first stepped on the field, there was a huge 'X' on their backs. Everybody wants to beat the defending state champs," Fulton said. We have not gotten an easy game from any team all year. Everyone has brought their best game, their 'A' game, to play us because that's what we've brought to the table. They want to beat the best."

"... These guys want to experience what last year's team got to experience, and they're going to get that opportunity. What they do with it is going to be up to them."