BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-demomcrat.com
Hovering at .500, the Cassville boys soccer team is approaching the midpoint of the season, with the second half marked by road games and an uphill battle to compete in one of the most talented Class 2 districts in the state.
Jake Forste, Wildcats coach, said Cassville (6-5) feels it should have picked up a couple more wins in its first nine games this season, dropping 1-goal contests to Monett and McDonald County.
In the Barry County FutBrawl against the Cubs on Sept. 17, Cassville was down 1-0 late in the game when a David Rehbach penalty tied the contest. Monett scored the game-winner in the first half of overtime, also on a penalty.
Against McDonald County on Sept. 24, Forste said a mental lapse was the difference-maker in the 3-2 loss, despite Cassville’s relentless attack.
“I think we’d have started 7-2 if not for two plays,” he said. “We played a phenomenal game against Monett, but we had an ill-advised foul in overtime that gave them a penalty. That was right after we missed an open look at goal, which would have won us the game had it gone in.
“We also played phenomenal in the second half against McDonald County. We had six or seven breakaways, and their defenders recovered on two and goalkeeper made incredible saves on four. They got a free kick and took it quickly, and we fell asleep — that kind of mental error makes a difference.”
Cassville has not come out with a win over Monett since 2013, now 20 contests in a row including postseason play. The Wildcats came close in 2022 with a loss in penalty kicks, then again was as close to winning as they could get this year in overtime.
The unfavorable streak was a key point in the halftime and overtime talks delivered by junior captain Kaid Williams, urging his teammates to be the ones to win.
“Kaid is everything you want from a vocal perspective,” Forste said. “He fired the guys up at halftime, after the game and at the start of overtime, and to a level we’ve not had in a while. I say he reminds me of me. He’s fiery, passionate and cares. He’s the first to support his teammates and admit accountability.
“David Rehbach and Diego Haros are also our leaders by example, just showing how things should be done.”
Forste hopes the leadership on his young squad of primarily sophomores will help propel the team through the season into Class 2, District 5 play, where some of the state’s best await.
Logan-Rogersville, Class 2 runner-up in 2023, leads the district, which also includes Bolivar, Monett, Osage, New Covenant Academy and Aurora. Bolivar holds a win over Logan-Rogersville, but Osage holds a win over Bolivar.
“We were in the second- toughest district in the state last year, and we’re either the toughest or second-toughest this year when you look at 1-7,” Forste said. “I don’t think seeding matters in the tournament. It will be about who can win three in a row and lift the trophy. It will come down to set pieces and executing to get one-goal wins against good teams.
“There’s nowhere to hide — they’re all quality opponents.”
Forste said as a whole, the squad is moving in the right direction to be playing at its best at districts Nov. 5-12 at Logan-Rogersville. The Wildcats’ schedule will leave them road-tested by that time, as 7 of the final 10 contests — including a match at Logan-Rogersville — are on the road.
“We are moving the ball well and only lost the possession battle to Willard,” he said. “We were level or had the majority of the ball in all other games. We are also starting to defend in all 11 spots with intensity. I’ve told the guys the workrate in the midfield was not matching the talent level, and to credit them, they’ve been locked in outside of possess just as much as when we are in control.
“We’re on the verge of a breakout — it just hasn’t happened yet. We’ve lost some one-goal games, and we’ll see those teams again. We can’t get caught up in the results because we’ve got a good product to be proud of and guys who work their tails off. In the end, we should be where we want. This group continues to grow and develop, and all signs point to us playing our best in the playoffs.”
On Saturday, the Wildcats went 1-1 in the Greenwood Classic, besting New Heights, 5-1, but falling to Greenwood, 4-0. The Wildcats have nine games remaining on the schedule six of which are on the road Cassville is in action next on Thursday at New Heights Christian Academy. The next home game is set for Oct. 15 against McDonald County.
