Strong start to the season as Airedales thinking big picture

By Kevin Taylor

Alma Schools

Just how good is the Alma Airedales’ boys soccer team? Numbers tell a pretty good story.

After winning just four conference games in a span of five seasons, the Airedales opened 5A-West play by winning three of their first four league games.

“It feels good to be 3-and-1,” sophomore Hamir Thibodeaux said. “I know it’s still the beginning of the season, but I’m glad we’re starting on a strong foot. Getting the win over Farmington, Greenwood, and Harrison was really great.”

The Airedales need only to win one more conference game to match their total number of league victories (four) between 2021-25. Alma’s 4-2 start to the season (it's best) also includes a school-record three-game winning streak.

Seniors Lukas Todd and Lukas Wald have been through the rigors of frustration, which included a rough patch their first two years of high school (2023-24), where the Airedales managed just three wins in 38 games, and are cautiously optimistic.

“Being here as a freshman, and not really having a very good start, and not winning many games, it’s really good to see our defense improving and also getting more shots on target,” Todd said. “We’ve had a strong start to the season, so hopefully we can carry this momentum through and get us to state.”

Alma has eight seniors for the second year in a row, with Todd (keeper), Wald (midfielder), and defenderJay Patel being the lone senior starters.

Defense is one thing the Airedales have mastered six games into the season, allowing just five goals in the team’s four wins.

But they’ve also scored a lot, too. Thibodeaux already has the single-season record for goals with 10, and has a school record 19 goals as well.

At 3-1, the Airedales still have seven crucial conference games with Mountain Home, Siloam Springs, and Van Buren.

They’ve already lost to Russellville (6-0) earlier this season.

“We’re seeing a lot of progress,” Thibodeaux said. “We still have a long way to go in the season, but I believe this team is strong enough to make it to state.

Fellow sophomores Trace Muszanski and Isaac Wald have accounted for four and three goals, respectively. In all, sophomores Thibodeaux, Muszanski, Wald, and Mason Mahar have accounted for 18 of Alma’s 21 goals.

Senior Oscar Ventura has two goals, and Lukas Wald has the other.

“I’ve seen the team progress in practice, and we’ve gained a lot of momentum,” Wald said. Hopefully, we can carry that throughout the season. I’m really proud of all the hard work we’ve put in so far.”