Badger improves to 3-0 in NAC play by shutting out GV
Trending
VERNON -- In what's expected to be a crucial game for league implications, Badger took control early and didn't concede anything, taking down NAC rival Grand Valley 3-0 on Monday.
"They were one of our biggest competitions for the league. There's a couple other teams who are fighting with us, but we're looking good for it," Braves coach Scott Smith said. "It feels great (to set the tone in the league with a win)."
Despite half the roster comprising of freshmen, the young players don't look out of place.
"Our older guys have really filled in our freshmen pretty well," Smith said. "Our freshmen have done phenomenal in the games, and they're growing to where I can rely on them, and I'm happy with how our team is, even though we're looking a little young."
One of those young players, freshman Kaled Garcia, scored the team's first goal in the second half to extend the lead.
Guided by upperclassmen like seniors Ian Tricker and Payton Roden, and juniors Lewis Flowers and Dax Harnett, all captains, youth is not an excuse this team uses.
Badger (4-2, 3-0 NAC) is a program with a reputation for success. The tournament is going to look different this year, and Badger is affected.
Now with five divisions as opposed to three, things open up somewhat for the Braves, who are bumped down to Division V.
"Across the division this year, it's a lot of unknown," Smith said. "A lot of our teams have all (come down to Division V with us) from division III, so we know a lot of the teams, it's going to be interesting, for sure. Right now though, we're just looking at our games ahead of us."
While the tournament is what they're aiming for, it's still a long ways away. Development in preparation for the tournament is the goal now.
"We're a young team," Smith said. "We're developing. We're getting into our form, we're getting into our shape. We're figuring each other out, so we're growing every game.
"Keep things going. We're still young, so the nice thing is, I have a big team right now. Getting everybody developed, that's our focus right now, and to try to find where we need to be before tournaments."
The Braves continue on when they host Mineral Ridge today at 5 p.m.
Grand Valley aims to recover on Thursday against Bristol.
The teams match up one more time on Oct. 7 in Badger's regular season finale.