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Season Recap: Boys Soccer

Whether or not Tallulah Falls set out to completely blow up the record books was intended, that's just what the Indians did in 2023. A young team with great chemistry came together in what is easily the best season in school history. Records were shattered, and expectations for the program have been elevated due to what Jeremy Stille's group accomplished this year, making a Sweet 16 run for the first time.

It didn't take long for the Indians to begin to get state-wide attention. After a blistering 7-0 start in which TFS outscored opponents 59-0, a top-5 state ranking was in tow. Just a few wins later, the team secured a #1 ranking in multiple polls amidst a season they were not only winning, but obliterating programs and playing flawless soccer.

All told, the Indians were 15-0 going into the state tournament (third straight appearance), secured a Region Championship (first-ever), and had a goal differential of 108-3. That's not a typo. The perfect regular season featured a spotless 10-0 mark in Region 8-A DI, and wins over ranked opponents Prince Avenue Christian (#7) and Mt. Vernon (#9).

For all the talk about the spectacular offense, which put up a record 113 total goals, the defense was just as good - or better. The back line, anchored by such talents as juniors Brit Shaw and Jake Wehrstein, produced 13 clean sheets, including seven in a row to open the season. They were a wall of protection for sophomore keeper Kelton Reynolds (77 saves), who owns the single-season (13) and career (17) shutout records now. He and his defense allowed only 6 goals all season, with 3 coming in the Sweet 16 final loss to Whitefield Academy.

In the playoffs, TFS opened with a 4-0 win over visiting Darlington before falling in overtime to Whitefield Academy in the Sweet 16, played on the home pitch. That gave the final score tally of 113-6, both shattering school records. The 16-1 record is far and away the best, surpassing a pair of 11-win seasons dating back to 2005.

Junior Austin Ball and senior Jake Hall were a one-two punch unlike any in the state. Ball set the single-season goals record with 39, adding a single-season record of 16 assists as well. He's the current all-time leader in both categories, notching 52 goals and 38 assists heading into his senior year. Hall was the engine that drove the Indians, making plays all over the field while running up 26 goals and 10 assists. Sophomores Landon Hall (11 G, 11 A), Clay Kafsky (6 G, 13 A), Koen Eller (4 G, 2 A), and Jared Mullis (2 G, 2 A) were instrumental to the team's success, and senior co-captain Simeon Conjagic was fantastic despite missing much of the season to injury. He had 6 goals and 12 assists, and set a new single-match record for 6 helpers in a win over Athens Christian.

Junior Luis Varano Pastor (9 G, 4 A) and freshman Laith Reynolds emerged as standout players during the season, and the trio of Jacob Mitchell, Josiah Turney, and Jackson Cording were key fixtures as well. Among the many highlights of the season included Ball's 9 hat tricks (including a record-tying 5 goal-game against Athens Christian). Jake Hall also had 4 hat tricks of his own.

The amount of talent on the roster is immense, and the up-and-coming JV players who are more than ready only adds to the expectations to build off this foundation. Jake Hall and Conjagic will graduate, but the returning players and newcomers will be ready to fill those voids and aim for a deeper run in 2024.

GOALS

39 - Austin Ball
26 – Jake Hall
11 - Landon Hall
9 - Luis Varona Pastor
6 - Simeon Conjagic, Clay Kafsky
4 - Koen Eller
3 - Jackson Cording
2 - Jared Mullis, Jake Wehrstein
1 - Brit Shaw, Kelton Reynolds, Laith Reynolds, Jacob Mitchell, Jackson Pollock

ASSISTS

16 - Austin Ball
13 – Clay Kafsky
12 – Simeon Conjagic
11 - Landon Hall
10 - Jake Hall
4 - Jackson Cording, Luis Varono Pastor Jackson Pollock
2 - Kelton Reynolds, Koen Eller, Jared Mullis, Jake Wehrstein
1 - Josiah Turney