Plenty of excitement on the pitch this evening as six teams earned the opportunity to continue their season while another six finish with fond memories.
In Class 1, the seedings were accurate and we’ll have a new Springfield derby to cheer on Wednesday.
Greenwood Blue Jays – 3
College Heights Christian – 1
The Jays took a necessary first step tonight, getting two goals from Dylan Montileone and one from Brad Cook. Andre Chaney scored for College Heights, who earned the opportunity to play by beating Thomas Jefferson 1-0 on Saturday in the play-in game. They had beaten the Blue Jays 1-0 in late September in their previous meeting.
New Covenant Academy Warriors – 4
Aurora Houn ‘Dawgs – 1
The Warriors got two goals each from seniors Mitchell Scott and Danny Jeffries in holding off the Houn ‘Dawgs. Aurora’s goal was scored by junior midfielder Steve Young on a PK.
The final will be Wednesday at 6:00pm at Cooper Soccer Complex. Greenwood and NCA have faced each other two prior times, both in early September with Greenwood 2-0 in those matches. The first game was an 2-1 OT win for Greenwood and the second game a 3-2 win after forfeiting an early 2-0 lead.
In Willard, the Class 2 semifinal matches lead to a strong Final on Wednesday.
Bolivar Liberators – 2
Willard Tigers – 0
The Liberators obviously are enjoying playing their District games closer to home as they reach the final of the Class District playoffs with their shutout of the Tigers, who came on strong at the end of the season.
West Plains Zizzers – 3
Webb City Cardinals – 1
West Plains struck first, in the 7th minute when Justin Scicluna converted a PK. TJ Martin’s header in the 22nd knotted the score, only to see the Zizzer’s come back a minute later to once again take the lead. Stuart Ziegler scored on an assist from Chris Saner (Chris’ 11th assist of the season, a new team record). West Plains scored on a second PK in the 27th minute, this time by Stuart Ziegler. The Cardinals missed a PK in the second half in losing to the #1 seed.
The final between West Plains and Bolivar will be played at Willard on Wednesday beginning at 6:00 pm.
The Class 3 games at Kickapoo set the semifinals which are tomorrow.
Joplin Eagles – 1
Ozark Tigers – 0
Senior John Duncan scored the only goal, late in the game, as the teams battled to continue their seasons.
Nixa Eagles – 3 (OT)
Neosho Wildcats – 2
The late game saw two experienced teams fighting a pitched battle that went back and forth. Neosho drew first blood in the 7th minute, while Guillermo Zuniga equalized for Nixa later in the half. In the second half, Neosho went ahead on a PK following a hand ball in the box. It was in the 68th minute that sophomore Clinton Joslyn’s hustle brought the Eagles back. His high energy effort to get to a ball pushed wide by the Neosho defense, and his subsequent cross to the far post, found senior Brady Hurlburt who nodded the ball just inside the upright.
Nixa came close in the first minute of OT only to see sophomore DJ Welch provide a goal line clearance behind his keeper. It was during stoppage time that Guillermo Zuniga took a ball from Jon Durbin and sent a diagonal pass to the onrushing Hurlburt. Hurlburt’s touch pass, to the overlapping Danny Curro, sent him in alone on the keeper and the senior extended his single season scoring record to 21 with his game-winner.
Nixa thus earns the right to face a well rested Chiefs team at 5:00 pm Tuesday while Joplin will face off against Parkview in the 7:00 pm game.
