Zumwalt South Boys Soccer Aims to Build On 2010 Late-Season Success

Going into the 2010 boys varsity soccer season,  head coach Jim Layne said he felt like if his team of inexperienced underclassmen could just survive until playoff time, it might be able to accomplish some big things at the end of the season.

Unfortunately, that meant Zumwalt South had to somehow survive its very difficult first part of the season, which it didn’t do very well, losing eight of the first 12 games of the year.

As it turned out though, Layne was right on the money in believing his youthful club would play its best ball of the season at the end of the year. The Bulldogs won six of its final nine games, including a district playoff win over archrival Fort Zumwalt North.

Coming into this season, Layne hopes the strong close to 2010 will carry over and the Bulldogs will be ready to play their best right from the opening kick of game number one.

“We came a long way,” Layne said, during one of South High’s preseason workouts. “That last game was anybody’s game. And now, the core of that group is coming back. We’re excited about what we can do this year.”

Leading South High on the field this year will be returning senior and first-team all-conference forward Austin Andrews, whose nine goals and four assists led the team last year.

Also back this year is fellow senior and all-GAC selection Alex Clark, who had six goals in 2010, and sophomore playmaking dynamo Matt Galvin, who had five goals last year.

Defensively, Zumwalt South looks solid as well, with first-team all-conference defender Jake Reinsmith back, as well as speedy juniors Ryan Howell and Juan Lopez.

The middle of the field might feature several players for the Bulldogs this year, including junior Tyler Womack, junior Brandon Mann, and freshman Austin Smith.

“Our lineup's gonna be filled with guys that are very talented,” Layne said. “If we can be a team that’s playing together, and be a solid group, and finish our opportunities, I think we can remain one of the better teams in the league this year.”

The Bulldogs will begin the season on the road on at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 30, when they’ll take on Francis Howell High in a non-conference game.

Zumwalt South's first home game of the year at Jack Ball Stadium, will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 1, when the Bulldogs will host St. Louis University High School.