This Week in Soccer has been hijacked as it is four times a year for the eagerly awaited games between the Southside rivals.
The Derby - Falcons vs Chiefs. Kickapoo vs Glendale. Wednesday, September 27th, at Cooper Soccer #1. JV at 5:00 pm followed by the Varsity match. This one is for bragging rights and State Ranking points while the match in late October will be the one that counts towards the Ozark Conference standings. Both squads visit Conference foes Tuesday in preparation, Glendale against the surprise performers of the season, West Plains, while the Chiefs go to the Northside to play against the Hornets.
Three opponents in common, including the recent weekend visit by Ft Zumwalt West and Trinity (thanks Coach Bilbao!) with the Falcons earning a win and a tie while the Chiefs defeated FZW before being surprised by a late goal from Trinity in losing 1-2. Nixa, an early season opponent for both teams, was a 3-0 win for Kickapoo and a 1-0 win for Glendale.
The primary change I’ve seen since the early season games has been the insertion of sophomore Chris Tombridge in goal and Ryan Moses getting increasing minutes in the middle for the Chiefs. Glendale is led by a quartet of seniors in Conners, Dusha, Palmer and Collins who are surrounded by what is effectively a pair of squads who fuel the Falcon’s engine.
Care to share an opinion on who will win? Use the comment button while showing some intelligence please.
Locally, there is also an interesting Class 1 match as College Heights Christian (Joplin) visits today to face Greenwood. These two teams have been the Class 1 representative from the Southwest region for as far back as I can see and Greenwood’s 1-0 win in the District final last Fall, on Ross Chaffin’s goal, ranked with the local derby’s in excitement.
The Missouri State Bears mens team have an opportunity for redemption on Tuesday, following their two 0-1 losses in Peoria this weekend, when they travel to St. Louis to take on #20 St. Louis University. They return Saturday to play against Eastern Illinois (at Plaster, I think). The women have gone to 7-3-1 (6-1-1 plus Sunday) and travel to Drake and Northern Iowa this weekend.
The Drury Panthers went on the road this weekend to face a pair of GLVC foes. The women went O-1-1 while the men did the same, suffering their first loss of the season in the process. Given it was at the hands of perennial power SIU-Edwardsville on their home pitch, ti shows the strength of region and the Conference.
The Panthers travel to Rolla on Friday and host UMSL on Sunday at Harrison Field (this one I’m confident of).
From last week, and on the West Plains Zizzer’s website of all places, is the Parkview Showdown All Tournament Team.
Finally, a hat tip to Nancy Ragains (Lebanon) for this fine example of a group of girls who get it! Taken at the Yellowjackets Homecoming football game, it features F - Michelle Hicks, U - Katey Hedgpeth, T - Courtney Chodes, B - Brianna Ragains, O - Hanna Winkel and L - Cassie Wood.
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