Inside potent Hickman soccer's seven-game winning streak

After Hickman boys soccer lost the district championship in 2020 to Blue Springs, the Kewpies had all of the motivation they needed.

So far, Hickman is using that motivation very well.

The Kewpies have rolled through the beginning of the 2021 season at a blistering pace, boasting an experienced lineup that has been scoring goals at a high rate.

Hickman is averaging nearly four goals and allowing just one goal per game. The abundance of scoring has the Kewpies riding a seven-game winning streak, with their only loss coming against Nixa in the season opener.

“Everyone has been scoring this season. We have (36) goals in eight games, so we're just scoring a whole lot,” senior Luke Telle said.

Hickman has 11 players who have made the score sheet this season, but three players have made their presence known most. Telle, fellow senior Ilhan Dervisevic and junior Leif Kammer have combined for 18 goals, with seven game-winners.

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That equal spread is thanks to the Kewpies' experience — the offense knows where to go and how to attack in specific situations.

“The first thing that stands out about them all is that they all can attack 1-on-1. You get that 1-on-1 at the top of the 18-line," Hickman head coach Wil Ross said. "Or you get that 1-on-1 driving down toward the end line, and that puts defense under a lot of pressure really quickly.

“The other thing is I think they just have good soccer IQ, so they know where to put themselves when somebody else is driving down the line. Getting into the box, getting a good spot to score.”

In Wednesday's thriller against Smith-Cotton, junior Cash Schopflin netted the game-winner, capping off a 4-3 win over the Tigers for Hickman's seventh straight victory.

The Tigers proved to be a quality mid-season test for the Kewpies' potent offense. Even as Hickman took the early lead when Telle scored on pass from Dervisevic, the Tigers found a way to claw back.

Hickman controlled the ball in the Smith-Cotton zone, but experienced a couple lapses in defense to allow two Tiger goals before the end of the first half.

“I think we kind of came in with the wrong mentality. I don't think we gave Smith-Cotton enough credit for how good of a team they can be," Ross said.

“For most of this season, I thought we've come out in every game really well.  This was the first game where I felt like we didn't come out as aggressive and as urgent as we should.”

That halftime break was different, as Ross left it up to the players to discuss the game plan among themselves instead of with the coaching staff.

“I actually let them talk amongst themselves for a moment without me," Ross said. "I don't know what they said, but it seemed to work, so we'll use that tactic again.”

The Kewpies' players-only adjustments worked like a charm, as Hickman came out for the final 40 minutes and scored three unanswered goals.

Mo Lehmedi set up the first goal by crossing it along the back post. Telle settled the pass and shot it with his left foot for his second goal of the game.  

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Minutes later, Dervisevic hit the back of the net for his fifth of the season.

Although Kammer was left off the scoring sheet, he disrupted the Smith-Cotton defense with constant pressure to allow other Kewpies to have scoring chances. Kammer has scored eight goals so far this year, including four game-winners.

Ross is happy with going 7-1 to begin the season, but the close game exposed some areas where the Kewpies can improve.

Especially if they have a district title on their mind.

“We're not gonna win districts giving up three goals," Ross said. "We're gonna have to look at our back line a little bit. It seemed like there were a lot of balls just going right through the middle of our back line. We hadn't had that problem outside the first game.

“We need to be more efficient with scoring. We're getting a lot of chances. We've scored a ton of goals and it still doesn't seem like that efficiency rating is high enough."

Hickman is scheduled to travel down Providence Road to face crosstown rival Rock Bridge on Tuesday.