When he was playing soccer during his grade school years Bryce Cottle was the primary goalie for his teams. That changed when he started playing varsity for Colleyville Heritage, with his father Warren Cottle as the head coach, during the 2020-21season as Bryce and fellow goalkeeper Logan Graves would split time, 40 minutes apiece.
Bryce wasn’t going to be the goalie most of the time, yet the pride of being the team standout in an important position — similar to a quarterback in football or the ace pitcher in baseball and softball — didn’t swell up for the 6-foot-3 junior. It may have never been there to begin with.
“We bonded so well. It doesn’t make a difference,” Bryce Cottle said. “We’re so competitive in what we do we bond with each other. It’s for the best.”
This strategy has helped make one of the best defenses among area teams.
Cottle and Graves have combined for seven shutouts this season. Cottle has an additional six halves of clean sheets while Graves has four.
They have helped Colleyville Heritage allow just 22 goals, a 0.96 goals allowed average in a 19-2-2 campaign for the Panthers. Colleyville Heritage — ranked No. 3 in The Dallas Morning News’ Class 5A/Others area poll — play No. 10 W.T. White in a warm-up game on Monday night and will take on Fort Worth Brewer in a bi-district playoff Thursday at Pennington Field in Bedford.
Graves — a 6-foot-2 senior — admits that he preferred to be THE goalie at first, but that pride went away by the middle of the 2021 season.
One reason Cottle and Graves are good with the situation is they are somewhat used to it. Having goalies play a half each is common in high-school soccer, and both players have extensive experience with this playing for club teams.
Graves has also seen it when the set-up isn’t very smooth.
“Bryce and me, we are competing without personality,” Graves said. “I have definitely seen it on club teams and high school teams when it gets too personal between the goalies.”
Warren Cottle said he decided on the split rotation simply because it’s best for the team and to take advantage of two goalies that are confident and capable. He is in his fifth season at Colleyville Heritage and 27th overall, with previous West Texas stops in Pampa, San Angelo Central and Midland.
Defenders such as Alix Galais, Mac Oliver, Ethan McCain and John Denny are a key part of Colleyvile Heritage’s defensive success. The only team Colleyville Heritage has lost to this season is arch rival Grapevine (23-0-1) — the top-ranked team in The News’ area poll.
Bryce Cottle said the best part of Graves’ game is his aggression, especially in one-on-one situations in either keeping strikers from getting off a shot or forcing them to shoot wide. Graves said Cottle is excellent in the technical skills of goalie, especially in making diving saves, as well as being a team leader in challenging situations. Both players had recent had recent success playing complete games, Cottle in a 5-0 win over Denton Ryan on March 8, Graves in a 2-1 victory over Justin Northwest on March 11.
Both Cottle and Graves said they don’t hang out together very much off the field, but on the field there is down-time chemistry and a relaxed atmosphere.
“We have fun together on the field,” Cottle said. “Logan makes jokes all the time. He makes it fun.”
Colleyville Heritage is looking to advance to the state tournament for the first time.
After the Panthers’ playoff run ends the partnership of Cottle and Graves will end. Cottle hopes to play collegiate soccer, although he may attend a military preparatory school after Colleyville Heritage. He said he may be a coach like a father.
Graves’ days of playing competitive soccer are ending soon as he turns his attention to academics. He will attend SMU, plans on majoring in business and may pursue a long-term career as a chief financial officer.
Graves said he will miss playing soccer, and the times he’s had with Cottle have been special.
“I’ve had a good time,” Graves said. “I love competition, and with Bryce and me, we competed every time.”
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