Nationally elite Dutch Fork soccer team getting everyone’s best shot in region play
If you want to find parity among the boys high school soccer elite, all you one has to do is check out what is happening in Region 5-5A.
Dutch Fork opened the season as one of the hottest teams in the country, not just the state or region. The Silver Foxes opened the year by winning the prestigious Capital City Cup, notching a 2-1 win over nationally ranked Wando along the way, snapping the Warriors’ 58-game winning streak.
That win garnered national attention. Dutch Fork won its first eight matches of the season and rose as high as No. 2 in the country in the USA Today and United Soccer Coaches poll.
But region play has been another story. The Silver Foxes trailed River Bluff 2-0 early in a game last week before rallying to force a tie and into penalty kicks, which came out in favor of Dutch Fork 2-1.
This past week, it looked like they would escape again until Lexington stunned them with two late goals. Ben Mayer scored just before time expired in regulation and Sam Pent scored just over two minutes into the overtime period to give the Wildcats a wild 2-1 victory.
The fact his team has faced that type of adversity in the region play is not lost on Dutch Fork coach Jovan Brdarski.
“The soccer in this area is pretty good,” the dejected Brdarski said afterward. “There’s good teams, good coaches and good players. I’m not surprised by what we’re seeing.”
Long-time Lexington coach Will Gettys agreed.
“The region could undoubtedly be the best region in the state,” Gettys said. “It’s ridiculous with Dutch Fork and River Bluff being in the top 5 in the state, ranked nationally, then Chapin is always good and White Knoll is tough to beat. Then sometimes we can play all right. It’s unreal.”
The one thing people shouldn’t do is count out the Silver Foxes. Brdarski brings a wealth of international soccer experience to the table and he’s got an outstanding unit that has outscored opponents 23-8 in the early going.
Dutch Fork is doing it with a roster full of predominantly juniors.
Returning junior Damon Williams and Irmo junior transfer Jordan Johnson have been dynamic on the offensive attack. Williams has nine goals on the season with three assists while Johnson has added seven goals and four assists.
Junior Paul Jones, a transfer from IMG Academy in Florida, has added four goals and five assists. Junior Elliott Fish has added six assists with Dylan Collins chipping in with five.
“Those guys are great goal scorers for sure,” Brdarski said. “They bring a lot of speed and are good at setting up their teammates. They’re all hard workers and that carries over throughout the program.”
Brdarski hopes the loss to Lexington is a wake-up call. There are only eight matches remaining in the regular season, but he thinks his team can learn and rebound from this setback.
“We have to keep working hard,” he said. “We have to be more clinical in front of the goal and not so wasteful when we have opportunities. We have to be better with our passing and finishing touches. Everyone is going to be out to beat us because of that ranking. We have to be ready for their best shot.”
Note: River Bluff in ranked No. 22 in the latest USA Today Girls Soccer Super 25 poll.