TFS Indians SOCCER

Whether or not Tallulah Falls set out to completely blow up the record books was intended, that’s just what the Indians did in 2023. A young team with great chemistry came together in what is easily the best season in school history. Records were shattered, and expectations for the program have been elevated due to what Jeremy Stille’s group accomplished this year, making a first-ever Sweet 16 run.

It didn’t take long for the Indians to garner state-wide attention. A blistering 7-0 start in which TFS outscored opponents 59-0 led to a top-5 state ranking. A few wins later the team secured a #1 ranking in multiple polls amidst a season they were not only winning, but obliterating programs and playing flawless soccer.

The Indians were 15-0 going into their third straight state tournament, securing a first-ever Region Championship and had a goal differential of 108-3. That’s not a typo. The perfect regular season featured a spotless 10-0 mark in Region 8-A DI, and wins over ranked opponents Prince Avenue Christian (#7) and Mt. Vernon (#9).

For all the talk about the spectacular offense that put up a record 113 goals, the defense was just as good - or better. The back line, anchored by talents such as juniors Brit Shaw and Jake Wehrstein, produced 13 clean sheets, including seven in a row to open the season. They were a wall of protection for sophomore keeper Kelton Reynolds (77 saves), who owns the singleseason (13) and career (17) shutout records. He and his defense allowed only six goals all season, with three coming in the Sweet 16 loss to Whitefield Academy.

In the playoffs, TFS opened with a 4-0 win over visiting Darlington before falling in overtime to Whitefield on the home pitch. That gave the final score tally of 113-6, both shattering school records. The 16-1 record is far and away the best, surpassing a pair of 11-win seasons dating back to 2005.

Junior Austin Ball and senior Jake Hall were a one-two punch unlike any in the state. Ball set the single-season goals record with 39, adding a single-season record of 16 assists as well. He’s the all-time leader in both categories, notching 52 goals and 38 assists heading into his senior year. Hall was the engine that drove the Indians, making plays all over the field while running up 26 goals and 10 assists. Sophomores Landon Hall (11 G,

11 A), Clay Kafsky (6 G, 13 A), Koen Eller (4 G, 2 A), and Jared Mullis (2 G, 2 A) were instrumental to the team’s success, and senior co-captain Simeon Conjagic was fantastic despite missing much of the season to injury. He had six goals and 12 assists, and set a new single-match record for six helpers in an early win.

Junior Luis Varano Pastor (9 G, 4 A) and freshman Laith Reynolds emerged as standout players, and the trio of Jacob Mitchell, Josiah Turney, and Jackson Cording were key fixtures as well. Among the many highlights of the season were Ball’s nine hat tricks (including a record-tying five goal-game). Jake Hall also had four hat tricks of his own.

The amount of talent on the roster is immense, and the up-and-coming JV players who are more than ready only adds to the expectations to build off this foundation. Jake Hall and Conjagic will graduate, but the returning players and newcomers will be ready to fill those voids and aim for a deeper run in 2024.

Jv Soccer

Having a JV soccer team for the first time is a sign of the influx of talent and interest in the program. Winning games in the process was likely - but the Indians blew expectations out of the water with a 7-0 record.

Coach Ashley Farris headed up a group that dominated nearly the entire season. From the opening 8-0 win over White County all the way to a gritty 2-1 win over Habersham Central, the Indians walked off the field victorious every time.

Through the first four matches, TFS was 4-0 with a total goal count of 261, pitching three clean sheet shutouts. That included wins over North Hall, White County, and a pair over Riverside. The rematch with North Hall was a 7-2 victory and was followed by a 10-0 shutout over White County. Tallulah Falls secured the tough win over Habersham to close it out.

TFS was 3-0 at home and 4-0 on the road, and outscored opposition 444, with 11 different players scoring goals. Marcos Alvarez Carrasco had 12 goals and added six assists. Luis Varano Pastor finished with 10 goals and four assists, and Gonzalo Gallardo Lozano had four goals and 12 assists.