The Anson County High School Bearcat Soccer Team continues searching for its first victory in 2024 after an 0-2 start.
After sustaining a 4-0 loss in their home opener against North Stanly, the Bearcats fell 8-0 last Tuesday to Albemarle but Coach Hunter Klein believes his team continues improving with each game.
“A lot of these players are new to me as a coach. A lot of them are very young. A lot of them are new to each other. They are very slow to start, but this is only our second game of the season. In the second half, (against Albemarle) they understood if we got to 9-0 we got to go home early, and none of them wanted to do that,” Coach Klein said.
During their most recent game last Tuesday, the Bearcats found themselves in a deep early deficit with Albemarle quickly jumping out to a 7-0 lead before halftime. With the 9-point mercy rule in effect, Klein believes his team showed a bit of potential by allowing a single score in the second half, but could not make headway on the deficit despite multiple deep drives into enemy territory.
“They kind of stepped it up, communicated better and came together as a team. They fought for it. It may not have been the result we wanted, but they certainly fought for it,” Klein said.
For Klein, building the Bearcats into a formidable program is not a single-season effort. After winning their first game in seven years in 2023, the Bearcats hope to continue making progress game-by-game, and culminating in what they hope is a deep postseason run.
“This is my fourth year as head coach at Anson, and historically it is a losing team. Last year, we won one game at the end of our season, but it was the first time in seven years that we won a game. We hope to keep that progression going forward. I graduated a good bit of kids (last spring), but I retained a lot. I have a lot of youth to work with. I’m only graduating one this year,” Klein said.
One highlight so far this season has been the play of junior goal keeper Ethan Dillon. Dillon made 15 saves on 19 attempts against North Stanly and nearly just as many against Albemarle despite significantly more shots on goal.
“Week by week, we take what’s a success and what we need to work on. It’s typically the same things in terms of soccer, but moving forward, week by week we’re just looking to improve as a team, grow and just make this a little family, a community for ourselves,” Klein said.
Following Monday’s game against South Stanly, the Bearcats face a three-game road trip against North Stanly Tuesday, South Davidson next Monday and South Standly next Wednesday before returning home to get another crack at Albemarle. Kickoff for each game is set for 6 p.m.