How Hardin Valley Academy soccer's state semifinals loss will 'fuel' its future

Toyloy Brown III
Knoxville News Sentinel

MURFREESBORO – DJ Powers of Hardin Valley Academy soccer is well aware of the rollercoaster of emotions that come with the TSSAA state tournament.

On Tuesday, the senior midfielder scored the game-winning goal with 4:15 left against Colliersville to send the Hawks to their first state semifinals since 2015. Hardin Valley won its only state title in 2011.

“That was definitely my favorite (moment),” Powers said. “Everyone celebrating together.”

Wednesday was the opposite result as the Hawks were shut out to end their season. 

HVA fell 4-0 to Station Camp at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex.

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Memorable season

HVA (13-4-6) fell behind 1-0 in the 39th minute against Station Camp (18-6-1) and was not able to capitalize on any of its shot attempts. 

The closest it came to scoring was when Powers had a penalty kick in the 49th minute but was denied by goalie Aldo Fonseca Vargas. 

HVA coach Jessica Stephens said the later goals scored by Station Camp were caused by the Hawks’ calculated risks to ignite scoring. 

“I wouldn't say that 4-0 was indicative of the way the game played,” Stephens said. “We had to take some risks and make some chances to try to create something. “And we tried it, and it didn't work and backfired on us.”

Despite the loss, Stephens was pleased with the level of performance this season, reaching the state tournament for the first time in her four-year tenure as coach. The Hawks lost to Bearden in the region finals but advanced to the state tournament by winning the sectional on the road.

"Being able to be here is no easy feat," said Stephens, who added she won't be returning to the Hawks next season. "If it was easy, people would do it all the time. So I think they have to be proud of that and hold their heads up high.”

Station Camp's James Kemp (11) and Hardin Valley's Gavin Standefer (13) fight for the ball during the first half of a Division I Class AAA Spring Fling game at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Wednesday, May 24, 2023.

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Promising future 

Stephens said that the finale will motivate the Hawks for next season. 

“Like any kind of defeat, you hate it, but you got to use that as fuel,” Stephens said. “You got to use that as fire, you got to understand, how hard it took to get to this point and then you've got to recreate that work and more.”

Powers is confident the Hawks can return to Murfreesboro and compete for a state championship. 

“Next year they can do the same thing we did this year,” Powers said. “Out of our starting lineup, I think we only had three or four seniors, everyone else is juniors, sophomores and freshmen. So I mean there there's a lot of talent out of Hardin Valley. We're definitely not going to be done. We're going to state next year.”

Toyloy Brown III is a Knox News sports reporter. Email tbrown@usatoday.com. Twitter @TJ3rd_.