Area club team finishes successful fall season

The Southeast Missouri Soccer Club, or SMSC as its been known for years, had its 2015/2016 Galdiators squad recently end its fall season with a second-place finish in Murray, Ky.

Head coach Rusty Crafton is also the head coach of the Poplar Bluff High School boys soccer team and said it’s about instilling the basics when they’re at a young age, especially given SMSC’s impact on the PBHS team with six current Mules among the club’s alumni.

“I can kind of relax with these guys a little bit more,” he said looking at his youth team. “It’s more just teaching them the basics, the fundamental stuff and getting the foundation down for them to be good soccer players when they get up to the high school level.”

Crafton has been coaching soccer a long time, before his son was born but now, he gets to do something he’s always wanted to do with his son a member of the Gladiators.

“I’ve always dreamed about doing that,” he said. “Coaching my boy. My dad coached me in baseball and basketball and I thought it was pretty cool playing for my dad. I think it’s a privelage to get that opportunity and teach him the right way to play the game.”

The squad competed in tournaments in St. Louis and Memphis before taking their talents to the Bluegrass State.

Crafton said the Gladiators fell to a team from Owensboro, Ky., and added it was the toughest team they faced this season.

The team went 7-4 during their season and netted 54 goals while giving up 24 goals.

Crafton said they had a solid season from their defense and goalie as well.

“SMSC Gladiators will be looking to add a few more players for the spring season,” Crafton said.

While the team was on the field at PBHS Wednesday for its end of year photo, a few Mules could be seen on the other side of the field getting ready for next season despite theirs ending just over a week ago in a loss to Farmington.

Crafton said he tells his high school players how important they are and much they’re looked up to but he also tells his younger players to watch how the older boys handle themselves.

“These guys are going to be you one day,” he said. “We’ll invite them to help out and be that role model and to set that example for them for the future.”