The Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Historic DeSales soccer season ends
The road to Lexington ended Thursday night for DeSales’ soccer team, but the Colts battled until the end.
DeSales, which advanced to the state tournament quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory Monday night against Bardstown, lost, 2-1, Thursday night against McCracken County after a penalty-kick shootout.
DeSales finished its historic season 19-8-1. It was the first state quarterfinal for the Colts since they moved to the Sixth Region for soccer.
“I’m unbelievably proud of this group,” DeSales coach Ryan Glynn said. “Nobody expected us to be here except for those 24 players on the roster, the five coaches and the team managers. We knew what we were capable of, and this is going to drive those younger players.”
DeSales was led by a core group of seniors: forward Demba Jawo (13 goals, 8 assists), midfielder Tyler Mudd (10 goals, 5 assists) and Reid Schulten (8 goals, 10 assists). Junior goalkeeper Parker Collins finished the season with five shutouts and allowed only 24 goals.
“The seniors, they changed the culture of DeSales soccer, and that’s something they can take with them for the rest of their lives,” said Glynn, a 2009 DeSales grad who took over the program this year after the sudden death of coach Lee Smith. “I’m thankful to be the coach here at DeSales, and we are going to be back stronger than ever next year.”
The Mustangs outlasted the Colts 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout. Glynn thinks this is only the beginning for the program as it looks ahead to 2024.
“Let this feeling hurt but let it drive us, and we will be back,” said Glynn, who was voted Sixth Region Coach of the Year by his peers.
McCracken County will travel to Lexington on Wednesday to take on the winner of Ashland Blazer-Lafayette.
The Mustangs earned their third consecutive shootout victory.
McCracken County controlled possession throughout the first half and scored the first goal in the second half. DeSales tied the match at 1 on a PK from senior defender Trey McCoomer.
Mustangs senior goalkeeper Grayson Parish delivered in the shootout, saving two shots. Teammate Jack Hazel scored the clinching goal.