'I'm ready to win': How last year's first-round exit motivated Collierville boys soccer

Wynston Wilcox
Memphis Commercial Appeal

MURFREESBORO — The Collierville boys soccer team still remembers last year’s exit in the first round of the state tournament. 

Not even a 3-1 win over Knoxville West at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex on Tuesday could erase the frustration of last season. In a way, it also motivates them.  

It helped Micah Soper score an insurance goal in the second half before Knoxville West (15-6) scored with five minutes left in the game to end the Dragons’ shutout streak.  

“I think it’s a good start to the state tournament,” coach Gareth Munro said. “I’m happy with how we played overall.” 

Much like last season, the Dragons (16-1-2) had a dominant regular season. They only gave up 12 goals, winning the last 14, including Tuesday, and had six shutouts in the last seven games. They’re playing like a team, hungry for the program’s first state championship.  

“They’re used to winning state championships at the club level,” Munro said. “They’re ready to win one at a high school level. A lot of us were here when Bearden … put us out in penalty kicks.” 

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Collierville plays Brentwood (20-2-1) at 6:30 p.m. CT Wednesday in the semifinals.

Within the first 20 minutes, the Dragons had a 2-0 lead over Knoxville West  after goals from Luke Johnson and Dawson Davis. 

“I think we want it,” Soper said of a state title. “We just have to come out and work for it, and it will come.” 

They could have easily had five goals with two missed chances and a missed penalty kick. That’s what Munro will remember most. Because losing on penalties last season still haunts him and the Dragons.  

“As a coach, I’m looking at it as, we could have played even better,” Munro said. 

And they have something to play for.  

Last year, they didn’t win a district or region championship and were booted from the state tournament soon after it started. 

This season, they grabbed region and district titles and made it out of the first round of the state tournament.  

With each attack the Dragons had on Tuesday, it was clear they are on a mission to win a state championship. They controlled possession from start to finish, didn’t get complacent after going up two goals early and got one step closer to playing for a championship.  

“It would mean a lot to be apart of the senior class to lead us and lead the program to be bigger and better,” Soper said. 

Munro wants one too.  

“I’m motivated to get it done,” Munro said. “I’ve been here for four years, I’ve been coaching nine. I was telling the kids today, I’m ready to win. I want to win.”

Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on Twitter @wynstonw__.