Monday’s Game Reports

The weather cooperated, at least for today, and there was a full slate of games to enjoy. The local derby between Kickapoo and Glendale went down at Cooper and as always it was an entertaining match. The Chief’s opened the scoring when Chealsey Russell slid a ball just inside the near post from out on the left wing. This came shortly after the Falcon’s Lou Opfer, after collecting a pass from Emily Jordan, turned on her defender and put a ball across to the far post that rang off the upright and bounced across the face of the goal before finally being cleared by the defense.

The Chief’s sealed the win in the 66th minute when their Field General, senior Afton Weimer (pictured on the left), moved straight down the middle seemingly unmarked. After moving around a defender her shot from the right side was pushed wide by a diving Laura McElroy but the Falcon’s were unable to do what the Chief’s had done to them in the first half as Karissa Nedoma, like the predator that she is, stepped in to hammer the rebound into the back of the net.
Kickapoo 2, Glendale 0

In an earlier game on the North side, the Hillcrest Hornets visited the Central Bulldogs on Senior Night at Harrison Stadium. Both teams had chances but at this stage in the season, the defenses were prepared. In particular, freshman up-and-comer Jillian Gerkey kept the Hornet’s in the game when in the 74th minute she made a fine stop on a Bulldog’s breakaway. It looked like it might go to OT until in the 77th minute a Bulldog forward drew a penalty kick on a hard tackle in the box. Sophomore Becca Carter, after a couple of deep breaths, stepped up and calmly slotted her shot into the lower right corner to earn the win for the home team. A second goal, on another breakaway, seemed to seal it for Central but the Hornet’s were not going away quietly. Their strongest player, moved up to forward from sweeper in an effort to equalize right after the PK, came close twice as the Hornets pulled out all the stops in the final minutes.
Central 2, Hillcrest 0

Catholic 4, West Plains 3
On the heels of their upset win over Lebanon on Friday, the West Plains Zizzer’s went out and pushed the Catholic Fightin’ Irish this evening. The Irish got on the board early in this one when senior Jordan Swift scored in the 9th minute, assisted by Tara Bailes. The Zizzer’s came back on the strength of their new single season goal scoring phenom, as Jessica Brixey tied the game in the 23rd minute, assisted by Val Jackson. Catholic did to the Zizzer’s what the Zizzer’s did to the Yellowjackets on Friday however, turning around and coming right back to score in the 24th minute from who else but Tara Bailes. Emily Kessler gave Catholic some breathing room before the half when she scored on Tara’s second assist.

Senior Catherine DiSarno gave Catholic what they assumed was a comfortable 4-1 lead with her goal in the 50th minute but the Zizzer’s weren’t done yet. First Michelle Esterle, assisted by Cameron Simpkins in the 75th minute, and then Margaret Grisham, assisted by Jessica Brixey in the 78th meant that the game came down to the wire. A positive result for both teams heading into the playoffs, as Catholic stepped up and stiffened their defense when they had to and the Zizzer’s are finding their team scoring touch. Keep an eye on both of these squads.

Camdenton 2, at Ozark 1
Since starting the season 1-5-0, the Camdenton Lady Lakers have gone 11-4-1 and now sit at 12-9-1 for the season after defeating Ozark last night 2-1 at Ozark. Senior Chelsea Williams scored the match’s first goal 24 minutes into the first half off an assist from Sharon Owens. Ozark’s Melissa Hogan tied the match up 11 minutes into the second half after she beat two Camdenton defenders with the dribble and nailed a shot from 18 yards out.

The match went back and forth the rest of the second half until 33 minutes into it when a dangerous play call against Ozark gave Camdenton an indirect kick from deep inside Ozark’s box. Senior Lady Laker Hayley Christensen tapped the ball back to Jenny Melton who knocked in her 19th goal of the season scoring the eventual game winner. (Report courtesy of Sally LaVigne, Camdenton. Well done Sally)

Joplin 5, McAuley 2
The Eagles were tested early but got help from the younger crowd on Senior night. Kudo’s to McAuley who are headed in the right direction with the playoffs looming.

Marshfield at Neosho
McAuley at Joplin
Bolivar at Waynesville
Lebanon at Willard – cancelled due to field conditions