FMS boys soccer region champs X 2 after tourney shootout victory
“Drew and I played for FMS soccer (and later, FHS) 30 years ago,” Wright said. “Our team in 1994 was also undefeated in regular season and won the tournament. We can’t say for certain, but we wonder how many coaches have experienced that result as a player/coach at their former school?”
As for this season’s FMS Admirals, finishing 9-0-1 overall in 2023 with a 28-11 advantage in goals versus the opposition, “We had an excellent season: undefeated regular season champs and tournament champions,” Wright said.
“This team was very special. We never trailed in a game all season. (Program’s) first regular season and tournament championships in many years,” he added.
“With a minimal practice schedule because the majority of our players are with club teams during the week, the team bonded together and played at a high level to defeat (all but one) opponent on the schedule (one ended in a tie).”
Leading scorers were seventh-grade strikers Ashby Scott with 10 goals, followed by Logan Wright with seven.
Top eighth-graders were goalkeeper Parker Fuller (four shutouts), defenders Declan Crecy, Aiden Wu and Jackson Hinks, and midfielders Uday Sujithkumar, Brody Dickerson and Chase Swaggerty.
Other top seventh-graders were midfielders Lukas Maier and Isaiah Burnette, and midfielder/defender Eric Bukovitz.
Other key contributors were Jake Rotan, Nathan Chi, Grant Wittschen, Ben Brettin, Uday Doddi, Christian Westin and Will Criner.
Having beaten Hardin Valley, Halls, West Valley, Oak Ridge, Jefferson County, Bearden and Maryville among its victims during the season, FMS faced Maryville in the tourney title match Thursday, May 4.
Tied 1-1 at end of regulation, the Admirals won 4-2 in a penalty kick shootout.
