Schuckman: Tomlinson’s coaching milestone is reflection of program he’s built

For a moment Saturday, Culver-Stockton College women’s soccer coach Tyler Tomlinson didn’t know what was happening.

After the playing of the national anthem prior to the Wildcats’ game against MidAmerica Nazarene in Olathe, Kan., the Wildcats’ starting 11 unexpectedly ran off the field.

Situated near a far corner of the facility was C-SC junior midfielder Kierstin Darr, who is from Smithville, Mo., and recently underwent surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Recognizing that, the Wildcats seized the moment and ran to Darr for hugs and a show of support.

“It’s a completely selfless group,” Tomlinson said.

But one that knows how to take care of business, and Saturday showcased it as well as any other effort.

The Wildcats trailed 2-1 at halftime after the Pioneers took the lead on a penalty kick in the 35th minute following a questionable call. The center official told Tomlinson he saw the C-SC grab the MidAmerica Nazarene attacker with both hands and pull her back.

Video evidence suggested otherwise, and Tomlinson had it on his phone moments later courtesy of assistant coach Wendy Arnett, who didn’t make the trip but was watching the livestream. He used that not to continue to argue the call with the officials, but as the basis for his halftime speech.

“I told our girls at half, ‘The soccer gods owe you one,’” Tomlinson said. “But I also said, ‘The soccer gods won’t provide unless you go out there and work really hard.’”

They listened.

“They played a little possessed in the second half,” Tomlinson said. “It’s a good thing to see.”

Junior forward Kirstin Jannin, a mainstay on the field the past three seasons and the kind of bedrock player Tomlinson has built his program around, delivered two goals in the span of five minutes midway through the second half to propel the Wildcats to a 3-2 victory.

Tomlinson even described one of the goals as “something out of a movie how well she hit it.”

Jannin is delivering those significant moments time and again.

“This season, she’s really put us on her shoulders,” Tomlinson said. “The word is out this year how good she is.”

This goal on this day had more meaning.

It’s the first time in his 11 seasons at the helm Tomlinson has beaten the Pioneers on the road, and after the disputed call on the penalty kick, he began to think it wouldn’t happen this time.

“Every time we come here something odd happens,” Tomlinson said. “I got in the mindset of ‘Oh, it’s happening again.’”

The Wildcats refused to let that happen.

“This team, better than maybe any team I’ve had in my career, can take a punch,” Tomlinson said. “One of our best attributes is we can take a punch better than anyone. They took a punch and we ended up winning. So look at that.”

There was one more selfless act in their bag after the victory was complete.

The Wildcats asked Tomlinson to do the team’s postgame breakdown behind a row of pine trees surrounding the soccer facility. As he walked over to address them, they popped confetti, pulled out bottles of sparkling cider and put on party hats to help him celebrate his 100th career victory.

It’s a milestone Tomlinson was made aware of before the season, but it took a string of success — the Wildcats are 7-1-1 in their last nine games and 11-4-1 overall — to reach the mark. That’s worthy of a postgame party.

“They made a moment out of that,” Tomlinson said. “That’s what makes this team pretty special.”

What makes the program special is his leadership, the players he recruits and the family atmosphere he’s created. No coach can reach a milestone without quality players who devote their time to a common goal, and no program can thrive without the right person in charge.

Tomlinson is that person, and Saturday was another reminder of that.

“When you have players who stick with the program and you’re able to retain good kids in the classroom and good citizens and good soccer players, then 100 comes quicker than you ever think,” Tomlinson said.