Tradition and youth

The Pulaski Academy girls soccer program has won six state titles this century, but not one has come under Chris Owen.

The Lady Bruins reached the Class 4A state final two years ago. None of their 11 freshmen were a part of that team.

They all — Owen included — understand the tradition that comes with being a part of Pulaski Academy. But there’s a benefit to not carrying the burden of the past.

“What I’ve said is that it’s up to them with how far they want to go,” Owen said. “When we talk about losing a few finals, we talk about taking it as an experience and trying to do better the next time.”

The Lady Bruins go 21 deep, yet there’s just one player left from the 2018 team that lost to Little Rock Christian in that year’s Class 5A final. And there are only a handful of juniors who experienced the 2019 title game defeat to Harrison.

Combine the lack of scar tissue with this year’s results — a 3-0 shutout of 12-1 Valley View, a 2-2 draw against Class 6A Conway and a 1-0 win against 8-2 Little Rock Christian — and it’s not hard to see why Owen is optimistic.

It helps to have a goalkeeper who’s conceded three goals through 10 games in freshman Leighton Mea.

Mea, with shutouts in six of Pulaski Academy’s last seven games, has led the Lady Bruins to a 9-0-1 start with wins in its first two 4A-East games.

“All of us, players and coaches, are excited that she’s settled in,” Owen said.

While racking up wins headed into May, Owen wants his players to push one another to get the Lady Bruins over that proverbial line.

“Having 21 [girls], we just play games against one another and try to make it competitive that way,” Owen said. “Nobody’s guaranteed to play … and everybody wants to start, so we have numbers [to battle it out].”