U13 Mansfield Soccer UNDEFEATED, Again!

Pictured Left to Right: (Back Row) McKenzie Putney, Nate Elmore, Head Coach Jason Baggett, Clint Stovall, Seth Carter. (MIddle Row) Ethan Chapman, Brooklyn Adams, Braxton Byers, Kaitlyn Slinkard, Lita Hecox, Serenity Brunson, Alexis Rivera. (Bottom Row) Preston Faulkner, Chandlan Silvey, Greyson Baggett, Ethan Plowman, Sebastian Vannaraj.
Photo Credit: Kandis Howard
With a narrow victory over Booneville (2) this past Saturday, the U13 Mansfield Soccer team ended their 2016 Fall season with a win, giving them their third undefeated season in 5 years, and the title of Champions.
“It was an absolute nail biter that came down to the final minutes” stated Lesli Baggett, U13 Assistant Coach.
This team knows how to win, and has proved that year after year. In 2014, they scored a total of 71 points, only allowing 8 points against their defense. When the team came back after a year off due to lack of competition, and enrollment across the entire league, the question of “could they do it again” was at the top of the list.
Baggett added, “These kids play for the love of the game. Yes, they want to win, and we all expect them to give their very best, but an undefeated season happens one game at a time and with it coming down to the final minutes of the game, each player had a role in the score, and the outcome.”
Mansfield was down 6-2 as they head into halftime on Saturday, which was a first for the team. They quickly  rebounded in the second half, and scored the tying goal within the last minute of regulation play. After a quick discussion from the coaches, and referee, Mansfield didn’t want to end the season on a tie. It had to be decided.
As the teams exchanged penalty kicks one by one, the Mansfield U13 prevailed by scoring (3) goals to the single Booneville goal. When the final goal was made, and Booneville ran out of players, the Mansfield U13 team rushed the field to join their coaches.
2016 Mansfield U13 Soccer Record:
Mountainburg – Win (7-3)
Paris – Win (11-1)
Booneville (2) – Win (5-2)
Booneville (1) – Win (7-1)
Paris – Win (13-0)
Booneville (2) – Win (9-7) (3-1 penalty kicks)