DKSC BADTOP STARTED ITS FIRST WPSL SEASON WITHOUT EXPECTATIONS, NOW THE LEAGUE NEWCOMERS ARE ONE WIN AWAY FROM A TITLE

Written By:  Thomas Costello
             Central Region Contributor

For clubs that have an interest in joining the WPSL, it’s difficult to anticipate what it’s like to compete in the league. After all, the league spans the entire country and features some of the top talent throughout NCAA Division I soccer. It can be overwhelming.
 

DKSC BADTOP, based in Dallas, joined the WPSL in 2022 with no expectations of success. Now, it sits on the doorstep of a conference title match, which is far from where it was way back in the first half of its first WPSL contest.
 

In its season opener, DKSC welcomed the Red River Conference’s 2021 Northern Division-winning Tulsa Soccer Club on May 25. From the first kick, head coach Michael Bones and his team were pinned far back into their own defensive half of the field, allowing Tulsa ample chances on goal. Bones describes the opening of the first match as being “under siege.”

“I remember looking to the rest of the coaching staff and going, ‘oh boy, this could be the beginning of a long season,’” Bones said.

BADTOP survived the early offensive rush of Tulsa, adjusted and the match evened out. In the second half, DKSC even went ahead. While it couldn’t sustain the lead, on the way to a 1-1 draw, the result gave BADTOP the confidence to not only survive but thrive in its first season of competition.
 

The expansion-side plays possession-style soccer, focusing on holding the ball, tiring out opposing defenses, and creating opportunities. Outside of tactics, DKSC also preaches growing the sport through a strong team focus – meaning even the most talented players don’t make a team but become part of the team.
 

Bones and the not-for-profit DKSC BADTOP don’t have the same history or infrastructure as other Dallas clubs and though they have a talented team, it’s not through a roster of Division I stars. BADTOP consists of some Division I players, but it fields mostly NCAA Division II or junior college players. What’s made them dangerous is the club’s ability to quickly mesh on and off the field. That “next player up” mentality was on full display in its second match of the season when it met Tulsa again – this time on the road.
 

After a 1-1 draw in the first meeting, BADTOP had confidence but entered a tough home environment from Tulsa. Early in the match, Tulsa and University of Oklahoma forward Bri Amos had a breakaway, with only goalkeeper Mikaela Gracia to beat before putting Tulsa in the lead at the 12’. Unfortunately, in the process, BADTOP’s keeper tore her ACL – a horrible moment for Gracia became a tough moment for DKSC who didn’t travel to Tulsa with a second goalkeeper.

“We were scrambling,” Bones said. “We just took a shot in the dark and we had a player in our club raise her hand and say, ‘I’ll jump in goal’.”

That player was high school defender Lauren Woodruff. The soon-to-be high school senior, and a verbal commit to Texas Tech, put on goalkeeper gloves and played the rest of the match between the posts.
 

With a non-goalkeeper covering the net, Tulsa upped its offensive challenges, even trying from midfield off a kickoff to see if it could catch Woodruff off the line. Instead, Woodruff kept a clean sheet for the rest of the match and made nine saves in the final 45 minutes.
 

After moving into a more defensive, counterattacking, style of play, the visitors put two goals past Tulsa – one just before the half and the second in the 80’. After Tennessee forward Jaida Thomas put DKSC up 2-1, BADTOP held on to secure all three points and return to Dallas with the win.
 

These moments continued all season. When Bones and his staff attended a playoff trip to Seattle for BADTOP’s youth club, assistant coaches stepped in to lead the WPSL side. Against FC Dallas, BADTOP’s best save of the match came from a player clearing a ball off the goal line when its keeper was out of position after making a save.
 

Regardless of the situation, it was the team that stepped up at all corners. Outside of one loss on an away trip to Oklahoma City FC, BADTOP played and won as a team, going unbeaten in seven out of eight.
 

On Saturday, DKSC enters the WPSL postseason and after starting the season with no expectations, it's hungry for a conference trophy and more WPSL matches. To do that, BADTOP now must defeat the reigning Red River Conference Champions, AHFC Royals.

“They [AHFC] want to put an end to this fairytale season,” Bones said.  “For us it’s big. We want to continue to go. We’re successful here and we want to go to the Regional Finals in Florida. That’s our goal.”