Farragut must ‘learn from loss' to CAK
KNOXVILLE — For most of the second half of his team’s match at Christian Academy of Knoxville, Farragut High School boys soccer coach Ray Dover implored the Admirals to play with a sense of urgency.
The sense of urgency, however, never appeared to materialize and the Admirals left CAK on Thursday, April 29, with a 3-0 loss to the Warriors.
“We just have to learn from games like this,” said Dover, who saw his conclude a frustrating week with the loss to CAK.
Farragut opened the week with a 2-2 draw against West High in its District 4-AAA finale on Tuesday, April 26. Things got more frustrating for the Admirals against the Warriors, who notched a win over FHS for the first time since 2012.
CAK (13-2-1) dominated the match. The Warriors enjoyed the majority of the possession over the final 40 minutes and controlled the tempo throughout the game. The home side also stifled Farragut’s potentially potent scoring attack, which has sputtered at times during the 2016 campaign.
“This is really frustrating,” said Farragut senior forward Dami Omtaomu, who missed on a pair of scoring chances for the Admirals (9-3-4). “We just have to get better.
“We have to learn from this and we have to continue to build and we just have to learn from a game like this.”
Farragut has held the upper hand in the series in recent years. The Admirals won in 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2011. The two squads tied in 2010 and the Warriors claimed a dramatic 2-1 win in 2009 in a game played at Bill Clabo Field.
CAK coach Jon Day was an assistant coach during the 2009 showdown and actually thought that that match was the last win in the series for the Warriors.
“I remember that game well,” Day said. “It was in the football stadium over there and we went ahead with like eight minutes to go and we had to hang on.”
CAK didn’t have to hang on this year. The Warriors darted to a 1-0 lead when senior midfielder Jon Creel scored on a shot that deflected off Farragut senior goalkeeper Eli Lewis and into the back of the net in the 10th minute.
“That shot deflected off the keeper and I got it and it went in,” said Creel, who has been one of Knox County’s top scorers during his stellar four-year career. “It’s great to beat Farragut. It’s special.
“I’ve been here for four years and I’ve scored some big goals and we’ve won some big games. But we haven’t beaten Farragut since I’ve been here and this one’s special and it feels great.”
Dover noted that Farragut had some chances early but those chances were few and far between.
“We had some chances early on but they were sporadic,” Dover said after seeing his squad outshot 11-4.
CAK cashed in its chances.
Junior midfielder Matt Zaczyk extended the Warriors’ advantage to 2-0 when he scored in the 56th minute.
Creel scored again in the 79th minute to provide the Warriors some a little extra insurance.
Day applauded his team’s match and had some especially kind words for Creel.
“There’s magic in those boots and he [Creel] has scored some big goals for us,” Day said. “This was a total team effort for us; from the back line to the midfield to the boys in the front.
“These boys have worked really hard in training and tonight, it finally all came together for them. Farragut is a great team and they have some nice attackers. We’re just happy that they book us for a game every year. They have a great program.”
While Farragut’s offense sputtered, Dover said he was also unhappy with his team’s defense.
“I don’t think we defended very well,” Dover said.
