Dunbar boys’ soccer signals intent, meets expectations with record win over Lafayette
The power for Paul Laurence Dunbar lies in the expectation.
It’s the expectation built from the school’s reputation as a Kentucky high school boys’ soccer powerhouse — first under legendary former coach Todd Bretz and now during the second season of current coach James Wray.
But it’s also the expectation built from execution.
Opposing teams know the quality possessed by Dunbar: The precision in the front line finishing, the commitment to making recovery tackles on defense, the ability to turn up the intensity when adversity hits.
These hallmarks of Dunbar boys’ soccer were displayed to destructive effect Tuesday night at Ishmael Stadium at Lafayette High School, as Dunbar defeated Lafayette 9-2 in a district match.
The result marked the first nine-goal output for the Bulldogs since September 2013, which was also the last year the team won a state championship.
Conversely, this marked the first time since at least 2000 that Lafayette allowed nine goals in a match.
The historic victory gave Dunbar its seventh win in as many matches this season, including a pair of district wins.
“Just the history of this program, (it) demands the best out of these guys,” Wray said postgame. “A lot of times ... the team that we’re playing, we’re going to be their big game every year and I challenge these guys in practice to make sure they’re challenging each other in practice so that we’re ready to play whenever we step on the field against whoever the competition is.”
Even for a pair of city rivals who frequently play, there was extra intrigue behind the latest meeting between Dunbar and Lafayette.
This was the first time the two schools had played each other since last season’s 43rd District championship game, won 3-2 by Dunbar with a 45-yard free kick goal that crashed in off the crossbar as time expired.
Potential revenge storylines sprouted when Lafayette took the lead Tuesday night in the 11th minute of the 80-minute match through senior Nathan Gabbard, who scored both of the Generals’ goals.
But that opening goal only triggered Dunbar’s archetypal response: A ruthless attack that saw the Bulldogs score six times in the next 21 minutes.
Senior forward Issac Cano scored twice during that period, in addition to goals from junior Antonio Blackman, sophomore Kasen Johnston, freshman Chaz Rich and senior Rodrigo Romero.
Cano is a potent scorer for Dunbar, having collected hat tricks in the team’s first two games of the season, a 7-1 win over Madison Southern and a 4-2 victory over Woodford County.
“He’s obviously a leader on the field, but I challenged him to really step it up off the field as well, leading this team not just by example with his play, but by his actions off the field,” Wray said of Cano. “He just obviously raises his game another notch, but he’s also raised his leadership off the field as well.”
Cano, who scored 13 times in 16 games last season, has matched that mark with 13 goals in just seven matches this season. He’s scored in every game so far.
Romero scored again in the second half to also finish the match with two goals, while junior Concepcion Torres and sophomore Joany Chavez capped the Dunbar scoring with late second-half strikes.
Dunbar’s attacking and goal-scoring prowess didn’t take the Generals and head coach Chris Grimm by surprise though, another example of Dunbar meeting the expectations set for itself.
“We just weren’t up to the task tonight, just didn’t compete across the board to be honest, just from the individual defending, team defending (and) going out there and really playing with a lot of energy,” Grimm said. “It goes to show you that if you don’t show up to compete at a certain level (and) you play a team like this, they’re just going to run all over you.”
Tuesday’s blowout also carries significance because of geographical reasons.
While many 11th Region teams surround Lexington, there hasn’t been an 11th Region boys’ soccer champion from outside Fayette County since the region last underwent realignment in 2012.
Dunbar has claimed five of those titles since, no small feat in the talent-rich Lexington soccer scene.
Not to mention Dunbar has only lost once with Wray as head coach, in the first round of the state tournament last season to Ryle.
“Especially this year, I think the gap between maybe the top teams and toward the bottom is a lot smaller than what it has been,” Grimm said of the Lexington schools. “It’s like almost any night, anybody can win.”
More often than not over the last decade though, it’s been the Bulldogs emerging on top against the region’s best teams.
After a result like Tuesday’s, it was only natural for Wray to wonder and worry about peaking too early, offering a reminder that effort and focus are tenants to building a winning team this early in the season.
Those concerns will be tested with upcoming matches against Lexington Catholic, Henry Clay and defending state champion St. Xavier.
But Wray also stressed the professionalism of Dunbar’s performance against Lafayette, the quality depth his team has off the bench and the value of the Bulldogs consistently doing what is expected of them.
“We had a bad taste in our mouth from the way our season ended last year and I think there’s one more goal they want to accomplish this year,” Wray said. “That’s our end goal, and I make sure I remind them (of) that every day.”
This story was originally published September 1, 2021 at 8:45 AM.
