Tuscola soccer looks to rebuild under new coach

Sep. 1—The Tuscola Mountaineer soccer team started this season with a new coach for the third time in three years, but the team's new coach might be the most experienced.

Stan Georgiev grew up in Bulgaria and came to the United States in 1998. Since then, he has made it his mission to teach the game of soccer to kids.

"It's the first season for me," Georgiev said. "We're trying to change styles of play, so it requires a lot of practice. The boys were playing one way last year and are trying to adjust to my philosophy. So that's a challenge for them, too."

After serving as president of Carolina Mountains Soccer Club in Waynesville, Georgiev is now taking on a new challenge as the top man for the Mountaineers. Tuscola has seen its fair share of struggles on the pitch recently, but Georgiev is positive in his outlook.

"It's not hard," he said. "I know the kids. I've coached them in youth soccer in the area. Changing coaches very often is not ideal, but it's Haywood County soccer. Not many kids play, so we work with what we have."

He said part of implementing his own system is making sure the team works within themselves and doesn't beat themselves mentally.

"I focus on the mental game," the coach said. "Let's trust each other. Let's trust what we do in practice."

Mounties battle

On Monday, the Mountaineers hosted the Asheville Cougars, who went 16-5-2 last season, so the Mounties knew they would have their hands full. The Cougars rolled to a 5-1 win.

"The result is not what we wanted, but we scored a goal," Georgiev said. "Asheville is a powerhouse in Western North Carolina."

Asheville brought the pressure from the opening kickoff. Junior Step Goldstein found the back of the net at the 18-minute mark.

Georgiev said this highlighted why they have worked so hard on the mental side of the game.

"Mental side is always 50-50 in any game," he said. "We get a goal down, we have to stay focused and trust in our training, trust our teammates, trust the coaching staff and keep playing the way we practice and keep going. Soccer is not a 40-minute game. It's an 80-minute game, so we have to go until the last second."

Less than sixty seconds later, Asheville junior Alex Litzenberger's goal made it a 2-0 lead.

Then, with just three minutes left until the break, senior Harrison Cash put one away to make it a 3-0 lead for the Cougars.

Tuscola went into the locker room looking a little defeated. But when the Mounties came out to start the second half, the team ran all over the field and put pressure on the Cougars consistently.

"We set up a different front line and back line because in the first half we were giving too much space so they went by us every time," Georgiev said. "We still have to practice pressing. We haven't had time to do that at all. It's a lot of work in front of us to work on high pressure."

That energy was on full display just six minutes into the half. After losing possession, junior Sebastian Guajardo won the ball back in a promising area and was able to strike it into the back of the net to put Tuscola on the scoreboard.

"It's very big," Georgiev said. "You saw the reaction from the kids. They were happy we got a goal. He's the player of the game. He deserves it. That's how we play. Just keep moving and keep shooting. The goal will come. Keep grinding them down."

Asheville's junior Kolten Robinson got on the scoresheet in the 57th minute and junior Agya Boakye-Boaten scored in the 74th minute to complete the 5-1 win for the Cougars.

Tuscola junior goalkeeper Ty Hendricks had a solid game, stopping 14 shots from finding the net. He did leave the game early with a leg injury after taking a few physical shots from the Cougars.

"It was a great battle," Georgiev said. "They outplayed us in the midfield. It was a physical game, but I loved the way they played. They played until the last second. They didn't give up."

He said that the team will continue to work on possessing the ball.

"I'm emphasizing patience a little bit more," Georgiev said. "It's the basics. I want them to play possession. That's what I'm trying to establish in this program."

The Mounties picked up a resounding 10-1 win on Wednesday at Swain County, their first season victory.

Senior Sean Fitzgerald recorded a hat trick, while seniors Diego Hernandez, Breyson Mallette, Parker Ray, junior Guajardo, sophomores Bryce Ferguson, Sam Clontz and freshman Chase Perkins each added a goal.

Tuscola has one more conference game, a home match with Brevard on Wednesday, Sep. 6, before they travel to play Franklin in the first Mountain 7 Conference game on Wednesday, Sep. 13.