Soccer team stays hot

By Kevin Taylor

Alma Schools

After winning two conference games in three seasons, and just two years removed from back-to-back 0-14 finishes, the Alma Airedales’ soccer team is finally reaping the rewards in the ultra-competitive 5A-West.

Trace Muszanski helped account for two first-half goals as the Airedales shut out Harrison this week, 4-0, for the program’s first-ever three-game winning streak.

Not only have the Airedales won three in a row, but they’ve climbed two games ahead of the .500 mark (3-1) in a league with perennial 5A powers Russellville, Siloam Springs, and Van Buren.

“Harrison’s always going to play good defense, and you have to be ready,” Alma coach Cory Sturdivant said. “The kids are starting to believe.”

To put Alma’s three-game conference streak into perspective, the Airedales, since the post-COVID world of 2021, had managed just four conference wins between 2021 25. That included a stretch of 23 non-winning conference matches between 2022-25 (0-22-1).

Super sophomore Hamir Thibodeaux assisted on one goal in Thursday’s win over Harrison and added his school-record 18th career goal.

Senior co-captain Lukas Wald put Alma on the board in the 18th minute, and Thibodeaux assisted Muszanski in the 29th minute.

Muszanski’s second goal extended the lead to 3-0 in the 47th minute, and Thibodeaux’s regular-season record 10th goal made it 4-0 in the 77th minute.