By Jon Johnson
Dothan United head coach Ricky Davey took some time to savor the Dragons securing the South Central Division title of the USL2 Southern Conference for the first time in franchise history last Saturday night, yet quickly turned his attention to the playoffs.
“I did enjoy it just because you never know when the next one is,” Davey said of winning the division with a 3-0 home victory over Apotheos FC. “We’ve given a lot recruiting-wise, training-wise … the players have given so much.
“To have something tangible in terms of a trophy and to win the division was fantastic, but you quickly move on. I watched two Brave SC games on Sunday and then watched another yesterday (Monday). We’re just preparing for that one.”
Dothan is one of eight host sites for the USL2 Conference Quarterfinals presented by VensureHR beginning Thursday with two Southern Conference match-ups at Rip Hewes Stadium.
The first game begins at 3 p.m. and pits the South Florida Division champion Fort Lauderdale United (10-1-1) against Swarm FC (7-0-5) of Austell, Ga., which was the South Central Division runner-up behind the Dragons.
Host Dothan United (9-1-2) then plays Southeast Division champion Brave SC (7-1-4) of The Villages, Fla., with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
The winners advance to play Saturday at 7 p.m. for the right to move on to the semifinals and championship rounds of the Southern Conference next week. There were 35 teams from the league’s 20 divisions that qualified for the playoffs.
Davey knows all the competition from here on out will be challenging, but he’s only focused on Brave SC for now.
“I think you’ll see a team in Brave that really likes to have the ball – that wants to keep the ball and kind of defends with the ball, somewhat,” Davey said. “They don’t like to give up a lot of spaces, but I think there are definitely some areas we can exploit. I think down their left side we can cause them some problems. That’s one of our strongest points down that right hand side.”
Dothan United has won three straight following its only loss of the season (3-1 at Swarm FC on June 28) and has yielded just one goal during the win streak, that coming in a 2-1 win at Montgomery United.
Davey likes where his team is right now offensively and defensively.
“I think the last couple of weeks we’ve gotten back to being a little more solid defensively,” Davey said. “Obviously the last two we’ve kept the ball out of the net – both against Apotheos (2-0 and 3-0 wins).
“If you look back in the season, I think we had four, five or even six in a row without conceding a goal, which is incredible in soccer in general. We did have that defensive solidity and we were scoring goals.
“We went through a little period of scoring few and conceding one here or there. I think defensively we’ve started to become a little bit harder to beat. We’ve been hard to beat all year – we lost one game – but I think just the energy in our defending has gotten a little bit better recently.”
Davey has seen the offense play with more creativity in recent games, but needs to do a better job of turning good scoring opportunities into goals.
“We went through a patch of not creating a lot of chances,” Davey said. “I think right now, we’re creating a lot of chances. I think we’re lacking that final touch … that final run, final movement, final ball … which makes all the difference.
“If you look at last Wednesday’s (July 8) Apotheos game – 0-0 at halftime – we could have been three or four up in the first half. But unfortunately, we didn’t make that final touch; we didn’t make that final run.
“I think having a fully fit Dyson (Clapier, attacker), for example, the last few weeks has really helped that creative spark back in our team. I think we’re getting back to a moment where we’re in a really good spot.”
Dothan United is in a fairly good spot overall health-wise going into the playoffs.
“I think it will be too soon for Evan Howard (attacker), who came up with a hamstring (injury) last Wednesday,” Davey. “Hopefully the weekend or early next week (he can return) depending on if we go that far.
“Other than that, we welcome back Devin Koorn (defender), from a groin injury which has kept him out pretty much the second half of the season. He was a vital piece for us in the first half. That would be a massive boost to the group if he can play.”
There are a handful of players for Dothan United who were part of the team that last season made it all the way to the semifinal round of the playoffs. Davey definitely believes that’s a plus.
“It’s beneficial in the sense that they can lead the other guys that haven’t been around it,” Davey said. “Guys like Yago (Darub), Josh (Hallenberger) and Alec (Palanjian) that have been around it and played big parts in it are huge for us, and huge for me, too. Just to bounce ideas off of them – what do you think about this; what do you think about that?
“The experience that they have, coupled with mine and the staff, I think hopefully make us head in the right direction.”
Also, having the quarterfinal round being on the Dragons’ home turf should be an advantage.
“We get to stay in the same routine in terms of the preparation and build-up to be able to sleep in your own bed and eat the meals we normally eat, to train on our field knowing we are playing on our field,” Davey said. Then obviously you take away whether it’s a flight or a bus; you take away the hotel. It is a big advantage.”
Of course the crowd at Rip Hewes Stadium can be a difference-maker as well. The Dragons have had more than 5,000 fans in attendance at both of the last two home games.
“From what I’ve watched of Brave’s games, they don’t usually play in crowds like this,” Davey said. “The nice thing is we get to be supported, but also hopefully they can feel really intimidated in a hostile environment here.”
Davey believes the team is well focused on the task ahead.
Soccer, life, sports is about staying even keel for me – not too high, not too low,” Davey said. “Obviously we had a great night Saturday, but we have to maintain an edge, you know?
“There’s still so much we can work on to become a better team and become better players. We have to maintain that edge. We’ve accomplished a couple of goals, but now we’re going for the big one.
“It’s a new season and five games to the national championship game. That’s the goal, but we’re obviously starting with Brave on Thursday.”
