RHS boys’ soccer team humbled after 1-0 loss to West Morgan

After the referee blew the final whistle and the two opposing teams shook hands, Russellville High School varsity boys’ soccer head coach Trey Stanford held a long team talk in front of the team’s bench.

The seventh-year head coach of the Golden Tigers clearly had some concerns he wished to express to his squad after Russellville fell 1-0 at home to West Morgan on Monday night.

“We just played really bad,” Stanford said. “Nothing against (West Morgan). They’re a great team, great program, did exactly what they were supposed to do…we just played bad.”

The game’s decisive goal came in the 17th minute from West Morgan’s Ashton Garland, whose strike from long-range found the top left corner of the net. Though Russellville had its own chances throughout the match, the Golden Tigers were ultimately never able to find the breakthrough against stout Rebel defending.

The Golden Tigers came into the match with a few members of the typical starting 11 injured and they picked up a couple more knocks during the 80 minutes of play. This, Stanford said, partly explains Russellville’s performance.

“We’ve got four or five injuries and it’s costing us,” he said. “We’re having to sub in the guys that are not ready to play in a match like that. They’re just not. We’re having to get into them and it showed.”

The Golden Tigers are now into the meat of their schedule and have a number of critical area matches upcoming, a number of them on the road. Stanford said working to ensure his squad is as fit as possible for those all-important area contests, especially the upcoming matches versus Brewer, is a top priority.

“There are a lot of these young guys that haven’t played as much who are going to be playing a lot because of the injuries” Stanford said. “We need to get well, we need to all be healthy, we need all hands on deck and everyone feeling good come time for Brewer.”

The injuries hurt, but Stanford didn’t pin Monday’s loss entirely on the team’s health—the Golden Tigers have dealt with injuries for most of the season, including to players like Manny Martinez, an important offensive weapon who has been out for a few weeks. During the postgame huddle, Stanford never raised his voice but could be heard imploring his team to “take ownership.” This year’s Russellville squad, Stanford said, is still looking for someone to take up the mantle of leadership.

“I think our youth has a lot to do with it, but we’re lacking that leadership this year and you can’t teach that,” he said. “Somebody’s got to be willing to step in out there when something’s going wrong.”

“The best teams we’ve had (at Russellville) had some absolute leaders on them, and the kids, when things weren’t right, they took over on their own and made something happen,” Stanford added.

The loss to West Morgan, Russellville’s second home defeat this season, drops the Golden Tigers to 5-3-1 overall. The fortress that has been Golden Tiger Stadium in years past has not been as impenetrable this campaign, but Stanford hopes Monday’s defeat can at least serve as proof Russellville can’t just stand on laurels alone.

“(Is it) a humble piece of pie? That’s what we talked about (postgame) with the guys,” Stanford said. “It’ll either matter to them or it won’t. I mean, if it don’t hurt right now, if it don’t feel like somebody’s punching them in the gut, when will it?”

For his part, Stanford thinks the team will respond. And for all the tough love he showed his players after the match, he said he still has faith the Golden Tigers can accomplish something great this season. Now, he said, the ball is in the players’ half.

“I don’t believe for one minute that we can’t beat Guntersville. I don’t believe for one minute we can’t beat Boaz. I don’t believe for one minute we can’t beat Crossville. I really and truly believe we’re good enough to be in the finals again, but they have to believe it and they have to know it. It doesn’t matter what I think if they don’t believe it. Somebody’s got to be a leader.”

Russellville travels to Austin for its next match on Friday, March 8.