The Sampson Middle School soccer team recently capped off their stellar season, by finishing things off in style. The Dark Horses defeated Midway in the semifinal round of the conference tournament by a score of 5-0, then Union in the final, 4-0, to claim the conference championship and complete a perfect 11-0 season.
It was a year without a blemish for the Sampson Middle squad, which is hard to do at any level. Sampson’s head coach, Jeff Smith was pleased with the season his team had, and the level of character that his team played with all season long.
“When it comes down to it, what I’m definitely the most proud of, is the fact that the kids were such good kids,” said the Dark Horse head coach. “They were so easy to coach. When we got them to buy in to what we wanted them to do, it was really fun to watch them do their thing. They are all very talented soccer players, who were always very open to what the coaching staff was saying and wanting them to do.”
He also mentioned how he thinks that the Clinton Soccer Club has given the Clinton area schools an advantage in the soccer program.
“The Soccer Club has done wonders in this area for the game, and I think that this team was proof of that. These guys play soccer year-round, and it shows. Out of my 24 players, 19 play year-round and traveling soccer, and that in itself shows the commitment these guys have to the game of soccer. When you’re committed like that, the success is just going to follow suit,” he continued.
It’s no secret that Clinton’s High School soccer team has been the top dog when it comes to soccer for years. Although the game of soccer as a whole is getting better and better throughout the county, it is evident that what goes into soccer at a young age reflects what happens at the high school level.
This year’s middle school soccer team from Sampson is a sign that Clinton soccer is safe for a good while.