The Wolfpack Academy Dons took bronze at the Show-Me State Games in soccer. The Wolfpack Academy played all small side field play to lead up to 11v11. 

The Show-Me State Games were played over the weekend of July 19-20. 

“The concepts on how individuals work together in 3v3, 4v4, 5v5 and 7v7 lead directly into 11v11,” coach Chris Williamson said. “The players have a better understanding of how the fields build up to the 11v11 game of soccer concentrating on movement and the build-up of players, which in turn shows the relationship of formation relation.” 

The players battled and were in the running for a gold medal by constructing a strategy that would have put them in a three-way tie at the top of the bracket, but with some officiating calls along with a red card causing them to play down took a toll toward the end of the match falling 2-0 to SYBAU.

The Wolfpack U18/19 team would play their first game vs the Flying Drilling Drillers to win 5-4 in a close match. 

In Game 2, the Wolfpack would rotate keepers starting with Nathan Rodriguez of Mexico vs Lone Jack FC. This would be a battle in the heat where the Wolfpack would find themselves down 4-0 at half. Adjusting in the second half, the Wolfpack would allow one goal but they never found the back of the net, falling 5-0. 

Amazingly, there would be a 2-0 leader and 1-1 tie for silver. 

The Wolfpack had to have a shutout vs the Camdenton Lakers United team. The Wolfpack did just that with a 5-0 win. In the final game, the Wolfpack would fall 2-0 to SYBUA with factors adding to the results such as a red card given to Yusuf Rohenda, who asked the ref about allowing a foul with a no call. 

“The team played hard, having a 0-0 score at half even with playing one man down,” Williamson said. “At times, it seemed like we were playing 10v13 due to the non-calls and questionable officiating. But what the team accomplished behind made it something you don’t see on a scoreboard. That alone is worth more than a medal any day.”

The Wolfpack Academy Dons would take bronze out of five teams in the U18/19 boys bracket.

“The most important message that I needed players to understand,” Williamson said. “A coach must believe and have the team believe they can and will win. That means, as a coach, you have to invest in your team and let them know it’s not OK to lay down and accept losing. If you don’t show the desire, investment and working in the offseason, then a team will struggle to have success. But as we did at Show-Me State, they know now that it can be done.” 

All the players had a successful summer with an undefeated 7v7 season beating Father Tolton, Southern Boone and so many more teams. 

“They ask me if I will run it back, but right now, I am on the fence about it,” Williamson said with a smile.