No disrespect to the Rolla Bulldogs (8 of 11 starters made the All Ozark squad) but with Kickapoo and Glendale facing off tonight at the Cooper Soccer Complex, things could get to rockin’ tonight on the north side. The Missouri Girls Soccer Championship tournament is down to the final 16 and the Chiefs and the Falcon’s will be battling tonight to make it to the Quarterfinal showdown on Saturday against the winner of the Columbia Hickman vs Lafayette (STL) game (postponed to Thursday - see below).
The local derby always brings some interesting side stories, as our local Prep Sports editor Allen Vaughan explores in the News-Leader today (nice photo Allen!). Me? I put out a request for old photos and Rick & Jane McLain came through big time, offering the gem above (and several more) that go way back. The one above? I’m guessing Summer 2002 and I recognize 9 of the 11, see my list at the bottom and let me know how I did. I’ve got four Falcons and two Chiefs, to go with three Irish. These girls know each other very well!
Since I’m a glutton for punishment, and I’m still getting, shall we say, razzed by the Glendale folks for having the gall to pick Kickapoo when the boys played last fall, it’s time to take a stand again. In the spirit of Coach Bilbao’s article on the US Men’s National Team I’m going to point to some key matchups to watch.
The most interesting one? I think it’s Katy McLain, left side midfielder for the Chiefs (back row right above), matching up against Lauren Bettlach who plays right side midfielder for the Falcons (back row left, with the braids). In the games that I’ve seen this year, the most reliable attack for these teams has come from these two players. Can they provide the same level of support for the offense while having to cover the other teams key attacker? Or will one, or both coaches, make a tactical adjustment for this game?
The Chief’s have won both previous matches, by the score of 4-0 on April 18th and 2-0 on May 8th. The goals came from a cross section of players, with Katy and Afton Weimer’s fingerprints on many of them. Glendale has shown during this late season run that they can attack so the goalkeepers will play a critical role. The Conference coaches were unable to distinguish between the two, voting both to the second team which is unusual. McElroy or McCutcheon? Who will have the larger impact?
The midfield match up is one I always relish and Afton, along with Sophie Cox in Rolla, set the example in the Ozark Conference. Megan Garrad is the upstart, matching anyone in work rate and acting as the engine for all that Glendale accomplishes. She will combine with freshman Emily Jordan and fellow sophomore 1st teamer, Lou Opfer, to organize the Falcons. Afton will look to Karissa Nedoma and Chealsey Russell, both of whom have stepped up regardless of the role thrust upon them this season as the Chief’s battled injuries. Which triangle will set the tone for the game?
Most importantly, which team will move on? The favorite has to be the Chiefs.
In terms of the Quarterfinal opponent, the Hickman girls soccer team’s Class 2 sectional game scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed. The game was pushed back for the funeral of Loretta Lowery, mother of Hickman midfielder Michelle Lowery. The Kewpies will face Lafayette-Wildwood in the sectional game at 6 p.m. Thursday at 179 Soccer Park in Jefferson City.
Now, as to the photo. Back row includes Lauren Bettlach (G), Megan Garrad (G) and Katy McLain (K). Front row begins with Mindy Neal (G), Whitney Hall (K), Tara Bailes (Catholic, peaking over Whitney’s shoulder), Lou Opfer (G) and ? in autumn orange and ? in maroon flanked on the right by a pair of Catholic stalwarts, Elle Holtman and Hannah Renner. There’s lots more where that came from, click on the photo and check out the dozen photos I’ve got out there. Feel free to offer details and comments via the Add Comment button above!
The Catholic Fightin’ Irish face Union this evening in a Class 1 Sectional match in Waynesville. This is a familiar foe, one the Irish dispatched by the score of 4-0 last season in the Sectional. Good luck tonight ladies. Go Springfield Soccer!
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Red looks like Alicia Tonjuk and maroon looks like Jon Senkosky’s middle daughter…Kate. They were cute back then weren’t they?
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[...] Steve Olson at SGFsoccer has written a preview of tonight’s sectional battle between the Falcons and the team in the yellow shirts. He takes a look at the friendships that will be suspended for a few hours as well as some of the key matchups. As he did with the boys in the fall, Steve has once again become a prognosticator and has given the edge to Poo: [...]
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