C.R. Kennedy seniors want a state title

CEDAR RAPIDS — Like the other 23 teams headed for the state girls' state soccer tournament, Kennedy practiced Tuesday. Unlike the other 23, the Cougars' coach, Scott Myers, made a surprising revelation.

'The only productive thing we did today was work on celebrating goals,' he said.

He wasn't kidding.

'Nothing we did (Tuesday) was productive,' Myers said. 'It was just about having fun and taking time for ourselves.'

But that's a bit disingenuous. He knows that because of the makeup of his team, specifically the senior class, he is able to be 'productive' in unconventional ways.

Kennedy's senior class is going to its third consecutive state tournament. Four of the nine seniors started as sophomores on the 2014 state championship team, and four others were reserves who played in the game. All nine start this season, and the Cougars are 19-0 and ranked No. 1.

'I think we've all played against or with each other since we were young, and I think that's created a really strong bond between us,' senior Sydney Hayden said. 'We all get along really well on and off the field. Like most of us are friends outside of soccer. It makes you want to play for each other more.'

Talent, experience, speed and a drive to excel are characteristics of this special class, but its chemistry is what leads Myers to provide periodic 'off days.'

'Thinking about it now, you have to win to keep playing; we don't want to stop playing with each other,' senior Morgan Petsche said. 'That motivates us.'

They have shared leadership and built trust. They communicate.

'We have a lot of respect for each other,' senior Linden Runels said. 'If someone tells me to do something I'm not going to argue with them because they have just as much experience as I do. I think the big thing is we all respect each other and listen to what they say.'

Playing time is not a bone of contention.

'We've been drama free,' senior Anna Frerichs said.

Because of their bond and their talent, Myers is able to take the pressure off an undefeated team of which much is expected.

'Thursday they'll be ready,' he said. 'I told them, come Thursday we'll be a far better team. I know that sounds like a lot in two days, but we'll be an absolute better team. We're going to play better. Defensively we won't make a lot of changes.'

And why would they when the Cougars have given up only seven goals, and only one team (quarterfinal opponent West Des Moines Valley) has scored as many as two goals.

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'Offensively,' Myers said, 'we're going to go back. Because it's going to be 95 degrees, we're going to run teams to death. Run 'em into the ground. And we've got the kids to do it, so why sit kids on the bench?'

'I think we just try to push everybody, as many people up as we possibly can,' Runels said. 'We've found that when we have high pressure and we keep it that's when we have the most success.'

That pressure can come from the back, too. Ten players have scored at least five goals, and 14 have scored at least one. Defenders Carly Langhurst and Frerichs have combined for 15 goals.

Myers thinks this team is better prepared than the 2014 team and not because it's unbeaten.

'I think we're more prepared because we have more experience and more depth,' Myers said. 'Are we playing better soccer? Probably not. But I think we have more depth, more athleticism. We have to get better as the tournament goes on, and I think we will.

'And you have a senior class that really wants a title.'