Rebels soccer keeps its eyes on the prize

Dallas Coyne has come so close to a state championship he could almost taste it.

The senior defender was a member of the 2011 and 2012 Vestavia Hills Rebels soccer teams whose seasons ended in the semifinals of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) State Tournament. Both years they were knocked out by Oak Mountain High School.

This year, Coyne hopes to return the favor.

The Rebels were undefeated through their first 19 games this season, scoring more than 60 goals and allowing only two into their nets. The team moved into the state’s top ranking, followed by a national top-10 on multiple websites and eventually into the No. 1 spot nationally.

While this season’s success may be indicative of Vestavia’s talent on the pitch, Coyne said he focused on not getting caught up with regular season accomplishments. 

“The rankings and our record are great. It shows how hard we’ve worked this season and how well Coach (Rick) Grammer has coached us,” he said. “But if I’ve learned anything from the past two seasons, it’s that nothing matters until the playoffs.”

Coyne credits much of Vestavia’s success to the team’s ability to work as a single unit. When faced with adversity, Coyne said there is enough trust among his teammates for each player to do his job.

A deep bench always helps, too.

“Specifically for this season, I think what separates us from most of our opponents is how deep our bench play is,” he said. “If we’ve got two guys who aren’t having a good night, we’ll sub them out and our play basically has zero drop-off.”

Still, the bitter taste left from defeat in the last two seasons quickly outweighs the praises Vestavia has received recently, Coyne said. And, as a senior, he doesn’t want confidence to get the best of his team, which he believes was the case in years past.

The team’s first loss of the year came in early April to Oak Mountain, and it lost its second to Mountain Brook shortly after. However, the Rebels still held their No. 1 ranking as of April 15.

The AHSAA Tournament, which began April 27 and runs through May 11, features a 32-team bracket and five total rounds. If the Rebels do reach their goal, it will be the school’s first AHSAA State Championship in soccer since 1995. Coyne said Vestavia seniors are seeking their taste of victory after coming so close the last two years.

Personally, Coyne said, it would be even better if the Rebels were again matched against Oak Mountain in the semifinals.