One of Bishop Brossart’s boys soccer coaches asked Tyler Smith if he was okay Saturday.
The Mustangs’ senior forward later admitted he was a little winded, but he largely wore out Campbell County. His three goals gave Brossart a 3-0 win – and the 10th Region title – at Munninghoff Family Stadium.
“I was just tired at the moment, I think,” Smith said. “I was just catching my breath.”
Brossart not only improved to 17-4-5 for the season – the Mustangs won their first regional trophy since 2013.
“The other side of it, too, is, we’ve been in contention in the region for the last couple years,” Mustangs coach Ron Dunlevy said. “We made it to the region final last year; we lost that game. That was the other thing – we were building to this moment.”
To crown Smith the tournament’s most valuable player was as obvious as chocolate syrup on a freshly-ironed white shirt. In regional wins over Mason County, George Rogers Clark and Campbell County, he scored 12 goals and now has 35 for the season (and 74 for his career).
“It hasn’t really kicked in yet; right now I’m just excited we’re the 10th Region champs,” Smith said.
Campbell County (11-10-1) coach Kyle Newman didn’t think his Camels would be intimidated by the pressure because they’d never experienced it.
“You don’t know what you don’t know,” he said before the match.
What the Camels discovered in the 19th minute: Smith was a problem.
Brossart’s Max Runge fired a shot off the left post – and right to Smith, whose header beat keeper Brycen Faulkner.
“We talked about it – always follow shots,” Smith said. “Every time, follow shots.”
Tempers flared later in the first half. Brossart’s Gines Arcas received a yellow card in the 29th minute, and Campbell County’s James Besecker earned one in the 33rd.
Smith’s penalty kick in the 47th minute gave Brossart a 2-0 lead. He followed that with a shot in the 58th from about 30 yards out near the stands.
“It’s an absurd shot there on his third goal,” Newman said. “They limited our chances and they converted the few that they had.”
Smith said teammate Sam Chirumbolo passed him the ball.
“It’s rolling, and I look up at the goalie, and he was, like, at the top of the six-yard box,” Smith said. “So he’s not on his line, so instead of striking it hard, I just decided, ‘Let’s just lob him.’ It did curve a little bit.”
Next for Brossart: two-time defending Ninth Region champion Ryle, a 1-0 winner over Newport Central Catholic on Saturday, in the opening round of the state tournament at 7 p.m. Monday on the Mustangs’ pitch. The Raiders shut out the Mustangs, 3-0, Aug. 17 in Union.
Smith didn’t comment about meeting Ryle; he had plans for Saturday.
“Take an ice bath and then practice tomorrow,” he said, “(and) get ready for Monday.”