Meadows soccer headed to playoffs

By Christopher Drexel

Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 | 4:23 p.m.

For the first time in a decade, The Meadows soccer team will know what it's like to compete for a state championship.

The Mustangs clinched a berth in 3A Southern League playoffs with a 2-0 win at Virgin Valley on Oct. 23. Sophomore forwards Alex Karabachev and Toby Warburton each scored goals in the win.

The postseason begins Nov. 7 in Mesquite where the Meadows (6-5 in league) will face either Faith Lutheran or White Pine. Fourth-year coach Garry Shackley said the team has been working toward the playoffs since he took over the program.

"The kids have worked hard to re-establish the program at the Meadows, and it's great to see them get a reward for all the hard work they've put in," Shackley said. "We set our goals higher and higher for the team each year."

The Meadows have more than doubled its goal total from a year ago, finding the net 47 times compared to 23 last season when it won four games.

Karabachev and Warburton lead the Mustangs in goals with 16 and 11, respectively. But Shackley credits a boost in performance from his whole team for the turnaround.

Shackley said only four players had extensive club experience and more than half of the club is underclassmen.

"We're quite the young team, and that makes what we've done even more remarkable, I think," Shackley said. "We've continued to improve the overall level of every player on the team. That's a key for a school like ours where we don't have a great deal of true soccer players."

The Meadows has two girls on the team including one starter, Ashley Lovell, a junior center midfielder.

"I doubt if she weighs 100 pounds, but she is good with the ball and deserves to be in the starting lineup," Shackley said. "She's played with the boys all three years since she was a freshman."

The coach also gave credit to the team's three seniors.

Goalkeeper Ofir Barashy never played goalie before last season but registered three shutouts this season, and Tony Castle has been a reliable defender all season. Midfielder Matthew Shackley, the coach's son, has been the team's Most Valuable Player the last two seasons.

"I asked everyone at the beginning of the season to show a higher level of commitment and establish more pride in playing for their school," Garry Shackley said. "We've pulled out some victories against tough teams this year that I'm sure we would have lost in the past."

Christopher Drexel can be reached at 990-8929 or [email protected].