Falcon’s Knock Out Bulldogs in PK’s

The Glendale Falcons defeated the Rolla Bulldogs this evening in the District 11 Final. The game was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation and four overtime periods, leading to penalty kicks. The PK’s went eight deep until sophomore midfielder Lou Opfer buried her shot in the upper left corner for the win, 4-3 to the Falcons.

I’ve got over 300 photos to dig into so come back for more details and audio interviews with several of the girls. On first blush this ranks as the biggest upset I can recall in the Ozarks region in my four years of attending and covering matches.

Update – The Falcons sent notice they were prepared to battle tonight in the first fifteen SECONDS of the match. The Bulldogs sent a long ball down the right side in sophomore Kaitlin Bramel’s direction at the start but senior Ashley Meyer stepped into the path of the ball and put her header at the feet of sophomore Lou Opfer. Opfer took two touches and sent a diagonal ball into the right corner in junior Lauren Bettlach’s path. Bettlach was able to turn the corner on the defender and run unmarked into the box where her shot to the far post eluded the GK and put the Falcon’s on the board first with their counter-attack goal.

The Bulldogs have too many weapons to allow such impertinence to go unrewarded and pushed forward. Their patience and focus on attack was rewarded in the 11th minute when they were awarded a penalty kick for a handball in the box. The play began when the Falcon’s attempt at clearing the box was headed into the corner by junior Calli Collier for Kelsey McFarland to run onto. Kelsey’s cross into the box in Autumn McEachern’s direction drew the penalty. Senior captain Sophie Cox buried the PK into the lower left hand corner and equilibrium was being restored for the Bulldogs.

Rolla came out strong in the second half, working the wings to forwards McFarland and Bramel. I cannot recall a Bulldog match that has not included a goal from a set piece (boys & girls) and this game would be no different. In this case it was a corner kick, handled by McFarland on the left. Her shot floated into the wind and ended up bouncing off of the crossbar and into the path of senior captain Rachel Moore who volleyed the ball into the side netting to put the Bulldogs on top 2-1 in the 53rd minute. It was a short-lived lead.

Sophomore Lou Opfer, in the 59th minute, maintained possession of a ball under heavy pressure near midfield. Somehow she turned on the ball and pushing it forward beat the Bulldogs backline that had caused innumerable offsides calls against the Falcons up to that point. Racing in on a breakaway from 40 yards out, Opfer calmly put the ball up and over the charging keeper to even the score at 2-2.

Rolla had several chances in the final 20 minutes as they pushed forward to get the win but somehow the Falcon’s bent but never broke. The best chance of all came two minutes into the fourth OT period when many of the crowd, remembering last years Sectional game against Kickapoo and the many wins Rolla has earned with this senior class in the past four years, saw a corner kick go uncleared and the ball fall near the feet of Autumn McEachern. Her touch and shot from just outside the six yard box was wide right however and the Falcon’s had another life.

Rolla came out with four seniors and super soph Bramel for the penalty kicks while Glendale had two seniors and three juniors. The result, with Rolla shooting first, saw Rolla go high right over the bar, Glendale’s shot saved by Moorkamp. Sophie Cox buried another one, Lauren Bettlach did the same for Glendale (1-1 after two). McFarland scored, Glendale hit the crossbar (2-1), Laura McElroy saved the next two shots by Rolla while Moorkamp got to one but junior Mindy Neal evened it at 2-2 after five apiece. Shooting continued with McEachern coolly hitting her shot, matched by sophomore midfielder Megan Garrad putting her shot into the right upper 90 (3-3 after six) for Glendale. Rolla’s shot was saved by McElroy while Glendale’s shot hit the upright (3-3 after seven). Rolla’s next shot went over the crossbar and it was time for Lou Opfer to step up for Glendale. Her shot, into the left upper 90, sealed the win for Glendale (4-3 after eight apiece). The celebration was loud and boisterous, especially when the Kickapoo players and fans joined in.

It’s not often that penalty kicks can be satisfying but Glendale earned their win, going seventeen deep and delivering the type of game you can only hope to achieve after a season of effort. Rolla has been, and is, the class of the Ozark Conference and if they didn’t already know it, discovered just how fickle a lover soccer can be. The list of hero’s for Glendale is long and you don’t win a game like this without a team effort. Senior Ashley Meyer sets the tone early according to her teammates, you win down the middle and Lou Opfer, Megan Garrad, Emily Jordan, Becca Robinson and Mindy Neal delivered. Maggie Schrier’s battle with Kaitlin Bramel was a draw which is a win for Glendale (something she’s been doing all year) and Laura McElroy played her finest game in my opinion.

For seniors Emily Moorkamp, Courtney Shaw, Sophie Cox*, Livvie Whitefield, Krissy Shank, Kelsey McFarland, Autumn McEachern*, Kate Spooner, Rachel Moore* and Rebecca Blum of Rolla, I say thank you for making your mark on Springfield Soccer.