Perryville boys soccer looks for redemption while facing challenges of expectation, loss

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- This is a field of play, not a court of law, but there is precedence for this.

A year ago, Perryville boys soccer was coming off an appearance in the Class 2 state title game -- lifting the trophy, no less -- having graduated four starters, all of them all-state caliber.

Fast forward to the present, and the Pirates are coming off an appearance in the Class 2 state title game -- finding only heartbreak in loss -- and having graduated four starters, two of them first-team all-staters and two of them second team.

Perryville coach Jerry Fulton said he would never tell his team that the expectation is to win it all, or even to get to the state championship. That would be an unnecessary pressure. But it's clear by this point where those expectations lie and, based on precedent, they are very high.

After feeling what it's like to suffer defeat at the pinnacle, the 14 returning Pirates have a new source of motivation.

"I think it's a good group of guys and I think they have the will," Fulton said. "I think they feel like they came up a little short last year, if you want to know the truth. I probably feel the same way. We felt like we left a little something up there and we'd love the opportunity to go back and try to do that again, but we know we've got a lot of work to do to get there."

The players are focused on the day-to-day grind, but admit the memory of last year's 1-0 loss to O'Hara still hangs in the back of their minds.

"It hurt. It definitely did," sophomore midfielder Cole Gerstenberger said. "Just thinking about all the work we put in for it to come down to it and us get second place. ... It didn't feel good. Just make sure it doesn't happen again."

Perryville boys soccer coach Jerry Fulton looks on during a preseason practice. Fulton has led the Pirates to back-to-back state championship appearances in Class 2.

That is easier said than done. While the 2015 Pirates knew which talented pieces they would have to replace, the 2016 group couldn't forecast an unseen blow.

In July, the team found out it was going to be without another All-State player -- the reigning Class 2 Co-Defender of the year, Dylan Jannin, went down with a partially-torn anterior cruciate ligament, and will miss, most likely, the entire season. A program that has built its success on a staunch defense is now without its sweeper and senior leader, and has had to paper over the cracks as the season approaches.

"It was hard," Gerstenberger said. "You know, he's one of our anchors and he keeps us strong back there. ... For him to not be able to play, of course it sucks, but someone has to step up and fill his position."

Fulton called Jannin an irreplaceable player, but he's been forced to try. That journey has gone through a few different permutations before landing on senior Jacob Sparkman, a starting midfielder a year ago.

While the Pirates worked through showcases and the Show Me Games -- playing eight total games together this offseason -- the team searched for the right piece at sweeper. It was only when Sparkman went to Fulton and told him he wanted to try to take on that responsibility that things fell into place.

"I felt like it would be best for the team if I gave it a try to see how I did," Sparkman said, "and I guess I did an OK job if he's keeping me back there.

"It's definitely hard to fill Dylan's shoes, but like I said, I'm just trying to do my best and trying to do what he did."

Jannin's steady presence and ability to bail the team out of sticky situations undoubtedly will be missed, but Fulton's been satisfied with what he's seen defensively with Sparkman in the spine of the defense. Perryville played a tough slate of games over the summer, including contests against Helias Catholic, Rockhurst and Liberty, and the defense remained stout.

"We gave up one goal in those three games, if that says anything for the defense," Fulton said. "Believe me, we've gone up there in year's past and not weathered as well as we did this year. They stuck together and survived the adversity of replacing the sweeper and getting everybody in the right mix.

"[With Dylan], I never worried when our outside backs would get beat because Dylan was there and he was so technically solid. You always wondered, 'Oh no, oh no, oh no,' and then all of a sudden he'd come up with the ball. Will I have some of those concerns at times? I'm sure I will until the next guy proves himself. But we were going to lose Dylan after this season anyway, so this was an issue that was going to come up in a year."

But the Pirates are firmly focused on this year, with or without Jannin, who Fulton praised as an intelligent kid who he believes has the character to cope with the gut punch of missing his senior season and prepare for a college career in the game. In the meantime, he remains on the roster as a symbol of both leadership and hope.

And there's still confidence that a huge group of experienced players are ready to shoulder the load. In fact, Fulton believes his team might be deeper than it was last year.

"I think our bench might be just a little bit stronger this year, because it's mostly the same personnel," Fulton said.

The team's starting strikers are gone after the graduation of Semoball Awards finalist Eann Bergman and Emilio Mattingly. Into that void steps senior Isaac Elsworth, newcomer Stanley Volansky -- younger brother of Michael, who captained the 2014 team to a state title -- and senior Aaron Mueller, a defection from the football team who Fulton says is "extremely quick."

Joining Sparkman in the back is returning stopper Kwaid Fears, a junior, as well as senior Austin Hotop, who himself made the move from midfield to defense a year ago due to injuries.

Trent Unterreiner returns as a veteran presence in goal after stepping in last season, and his coach feels good about his continued development.

The midfield, likely, will be the difference maker if Perryville wants to maintain the level of success it's grown accustomed to. Gone is Semoball Boys Soccer Player of the Year and first-team all-stater Kyle Wood, along with backbone Pablo Mattingly. Add in the shift of Sparkman to defense, and there are some roles to fill in the middle of the park.

Look for seniors Caleb Hadler and Hotop, who has experience and speed -- he's a member of the Pirates' state relay team during the track season -- to work the flanks. Centrally, responsibilities will fall to a young duo. The good news is that the coaching staff believes there's a lot to be excited about when it comes to Gerstenberger and Jake Unterreiner.

"I've always been convinced that No. 1, defense wins games, but ... if you control the midfield, you're playing on their end of the field," Fulton said. "I think a good core group of guys that can play well together in the midfield is highly important to the game. I think we have that mix, it's just about getting them some experience together now."

Unterreiner is a freshman but has a lot of experience playing club soccer, so Fulton has faith he can handle the varsity level.

Gerstenberger will have a chance to become the new face of the program. Already with a full season of starting experience under his belt, he will provide the engine for Perryville's attack. He was second on the team in goals in 2015.

The sophomore said he feels more comfortable in his role now.

"As a central midfielder I think I should be a facilitator and control the game," Gerstenberger said. "Definitely stay positive with the team -- make sure everyone is up and ready to play.

"[This year] is definitely different. Last year I had no experience, just stepping in blind. Now I know what it feels like to go to state and I know what it feels like to lose, and I don't want that to happen again."

The squad won't boast as much size as it did a year ago, but Fulton believes it makes up for that in other ways.

"I think what they gain in experience and quickness and working together makes up for it," the coach said. "They definitely, I think, are one of the best passing teams I've seen, even going back to 2014.

"If anything, I think that maybe you'll see it's just a little bit sharper than in the past. We won't be relying on those one or two guys to be the guy, because it's a team effort."

Whether that translates into maintaining the precedent is yet to be seen.

"I think they're still finding some things," Fulton said.

"If we've learned anything in the past few years, it's never put your cart before you horse. We know we've got work to do and we have some quality teams in our area to go up against, but I think the guys are on the right track."

Perryville opens its season Tuesday at Poplar Bluff.