A.C. Flora soccer star McClam hopes to cap family legacy with a state title

When the A.C. Flora Falcons take on St. James for the Class 3A boys soccer championship Saturday at River Bluff, all-state forward Daniel McClam won’t just be representing his team and school.

McClam, a senior captain, is the youngest of three soccer-playing brothers, and his game has benefited from their experience.

“My brothers have always played soccer, and I’ve always been around them and been around the game. They’ve been a great influence and very encouraging for me,” said McClam, who hopes to sign with the College of Charleston.

A.C. Flora coach Matt Barry has coached all of the McClam brothers – Matthew McClam was on Barry’s SC United club team; Andrew McClam played one season at Flora.

“Matthew was a ferocious midfielder for Hammond, and Daniel has got that rage that his oldest brother has. Andrew was a little more laid back than the oldest and youngest brothers,” Barry said. “Daniel’s got that rage and probably more skill, certainly more composure in front of the goal, even though Matthew did score some great goals for me.”

Said Daniel McClam: “Since he’s coached my brothers, I’ve seen a lot of Barry’s coaching, and that is part of the reason we have such a good relationship. It really helps that we have that history.”

Barry’s familiarity with McClam helped them find how best to utilize his talents.

Barry described the center forward position as “first and foremost a target. He is a skillful player so we can play to him on the ground. But he’s a big player so we can also get a long ball to him and he’s the physical stature to hold it up.

“From there it’s up to him to make the right decision – to either create on his own or bomb it to midfield and let them create,” Barry said.

McClam earned all-state honors for the third consecutive year this season, after scoring 18 goals and notching 12 assists.

“This year, he’s much more balanced,” Barry said. “He’s been more involved in the attack this year; even though he’s got two fewer goals than last year, with six more assists, he’s actually creating more.

“He’s just what a senior leader, three time all-state player should be.”

McClam said he feels different this season.

“The first two years, I was kind of focusing on stats and stuff like that, but this year, it’s just been one team, one dream. We’re on a mission, and it’s not about stats,” McClam said. “I don’t really care about the awards, I just want to win the state championship.”

Robert Weldon and Tanner Reagle flank McClam at the front, and the trio has tremendous chemistry that has helped the Falcons (16-3-1) stay ahead of the competition all season.

Weldon and McClam have played together for more than 10 years, and with Reagle since seventh grade.

“It’s like brothers out there playing,” Barry said.

“It just makes you more comfortable, when you get the ball, you know they’re going to be there, and you know what they’re going to do. You don’t have to look around for them,” Reagle said.

Added McClam: “It feels pretty natural, at this point. I know, with my head down and my back to the goal, I know what runs they’re going to make, and we play well together that way.”

The forwards are not the only scoring threats for the Falcons. At midfield, Numera Sturgeon and Baker Roddey create lots of offense for Flora, but the forwards enjoy their role as the first line of attack.

“It’s exciting to be the finishing piece, and you want to score for your team,” Reagle said.

All told, the Falcons have outscored opponents 84-20, but the Falcons’ success has not been just about their ability to score.

McClam, Reagle and Weldon said an important part of their game is knowing they can rely on their backs to protect their advantage and keep the pressure off the front.

“It helps a lot, to be able to put a team away, when you know you have everybody behind the ball,” Weldon said.

“We’ve had some games where we’ve hung five goals on teams, and the last couple of games, we’ve won by one, where we were able to get on top and maintain that lead.

“That’s important at this time of year because you don’t know how you need to beat your opponent, especially one you haven’t seen all year. You want to rely on the best way that game,” Barry said.

The Falcons take on sixth-ranked St. James (20-3-1) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.