After a stellar regular season, the Clinton Arrow boys soccer team is hoping it can get back to the Class 6A championship game.
Clinton last won the title in 2009, and also won overall titles in 2005 and 2006 (then Class 5A).
The Arrows fell to Madison Central in the second round of the playoffs in 2010, and were eliminated by Northwest Rankin in the opening round last year at home.
The journey to the 2012 championship all starts tonight in the opening round of the playoffs at Arrow Field. CHS plays host to Olive Branch at 7 p.m.
Clinton rides a No. 2 ranking in The Clarion-Ledger boys soccer poll into the playoffs, as well as a national No. 4 ranking by Maxpreps.com. The Arrows stand 19-2-2 on the season.
“We feel real good right now going into the playoffs,” said 12- year head coach Jeff Long. “I’m proud of this team. They have exceeded expectations and are not satisfied. We feel we have the team to win another title.”
For CHS, defense has been the team’s strength. The Arrows have only given up 10 goals the entire regular season.
“Jake Files is the best goalie in the state, in my opinion,” Long said. “And on offense, Michael Orcutt seems to always come up with the big goal when we need it.”
“We sent through the entire regular season without a single yellow card for misconduct,” said Long. “That is unheard of in high school soccer. Our opponents had 16 yellow cards for misconduct and 2 red cards for ejections. If a team sportsmanship award was given out, I think our guys should win it.”
The Arrows defeated Warren Central Jan. 20 to win the district.
After WCHS took a surprising 1-0 lead, Zaac Crosby tied the game after Nathan Usry’s free kick. Orcutt got the game-winning kick unassisted seven minutes into the second half. For Orcutt, it was his 20th goal of the season and eighth winning goal of the season.
Senior forward James Oliver, likes his team’s chances going into the playoffs.
“We had three easy games before we played Warren Central, so it was good to have a tough game where we had to come from behind going into the playoffs,” Oliver said.
“We are playing well together right now and hopefully peaking at just the right time.”
“These guys are focused on one thing: winning a ninth state championship for Clinton,” Long said.











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