By Rubin E. Grant
As the Hoover Bucs’ boys soccer team entered the state playoffs this week, they had only one goal in mind.
They wanted to put an end to the school’s long drought without a state championship.
Hoover hasn’t won a title since 2003, which also happens to be the Bucs’ only state championship in boys soccer.
“Since the beginning of the season, we’ve had the mentality that we’re going to try to end that drought,” said senior center back Juan Valle, a team captain. “But we’re taking it one game at a time.”
The No. 1 ranked Bucs (15-4-3) played host to No. 8 Mountain Brook (15-6-2) in an AHSAA first-round Class 7A game recently. The Bucs were hoping to avenge a 2-1 loss to the Spartans in the first round in 2018.
“That gives us a lot of motivation,” Valle said.
Hoover beat Mountain Brook 1-0 early in the regular season, but Bucs coach Kris Keplinger didn’t put much stock in that.
“It could have gone either way,” Keplinger said.
Keplinger’s focus is on how the Bucs are playing heading into the postseason.
“I hope we’re at the point where we are playing our best soccer,” Keplinger said. “I think we have as good a chance as anyone to win the state. It comes down to how well we execute and how well we play.”
The Bucs have relied on a strong defense throughout the season. They have recorded 10 shutouts.
“I think that starts with Max Rudolph, our senior goalkeeper,” Keplinger said, adding that center backs Valle and junior Carter Mock and sophomore midfielder Dylan Steely also have been instrumental.
“Those three players are formidable in the middle of the field,” Keplinger said.
Rudolph likes the way the backline of Hoover’s defense plays.
“I feel pretty confident in the back,” Rudolph said. “I mean, the back defensive line kind of shuts everything down.”
Valle said it’s just a matter of teamwork and preparation.
“I think everyone works together on defense, and I think we have the best keeper in the state,” Valle said. “We go out in practice every day, giving our best, and how we play on the field is a result of what we’ve been working on.”
Junior Sam Bauder and senior Caleb Cousineau have been the Bucs’ leading goal scorers. Cousineau played on Hoover’s junior varsity team as a freshman but elected to play club soccer the past two seasons before returning this spring.
Keplinger said the Bucs have gotten contributions throughout the roster, which features 10 seniors. “We’ve got a lot of good soccer players,” he said. “That experience is a big plus.”
The seniors realize it’s their final opportunity to bring another title to Hoover.
“After such a long time, we really want to leave with a state championship,” Valle said.
