DeKalb shuts down Dragon soccer

Clinton ends 2023 as district champions

May 24, 2023 by Ken Lay

Clinton High School’s boys soccer team saw its 2023 season end on a losing note.

The Dragons, who recently won the District 5-AA Tournament Championship, dropped a 10-4 decision to DeKalb County in the opening round of the Region 3-AA Tournament at home on Tuesday, May 17.

“We gave up to penalty kicks and we don’t usually do that,” CHS Coach Gene Chunn said. “We got behind in a hurry.

“We were outmanned but the kids played hard and they just didn’t quit. I’m proud of them for their effort.”

The work ethic and effort have been trademarks of the Dragons this spring, and it was that formula that earned Clinton 12 wins and a district tournament title.

But the Dragons ran into a buzz saw early last week in what was eventually their 2023 swan song. They were without a pair of seniors, who had prior commitments.

“DeKalb County is a really good team and they’ve had the same coach for 21 years, and that’s unheard of,” Chunn said. “We were without our senior keeper. He was out of town, and we had another senior forward who had just graduated and had to work.

“But the freshmen that we put in did a great job. We were just outmanned.”

One of those freshmen, Christian Honeycutt, scored a goal in the regional match against the Tigers, who went go on to win the tournament title against Cumberland County (avenging a loss to the Jets in the District 6-AA championship match) before losing in the state sectional to East Hamilton, 2-0.

Julio DeValle also tallied and dished out two assists. Owen Gray also recorded a goal and an assist, while Zyrus Dew also found the back of the net for the Dragons (12-8).

Chunn also praised freshman goalkeeper Hayden Kiely.

“He made some big saves for us,” Chunn said of Kiely.