Missouri Girls Soccer Playoffs: Class 1 District 12 Semifinals

I know how to pick them folks. What a game I saw tonight!

Willard Tigers – 1
Greenwood Blue Jays – 0
Bodine to Middleton. It’s a familiar refrain and its one they will talk about for a number of years in Willard after tonights game. In stoppage time, junior Patsy Middleton made a run from the right side to the left side of the field, near the center circle, anticipating as she has hundreds of times in the past that senior Regina Bodine would win the battle for a loose ball and send her in on goal. In this case, against the run of play, Bodine leaped for a ball that had been booted 50 yards by sophomore goalkeeper Morgan Ulesich. Her flick sent Middleton down the left side with a pair of defenders in tow. Middleton’s blast as she entered the box found the upper 90 (pictured) and the Tiger’s earned passage into their first District title game. Ever.

The game benefited from the cooler weather and the realization both teams had of the opportunity the game represented for their programs respective growth. It was a blue collar game, with “more hits then in a Willard football game” as noted by a Tigers fan on the sideline near me. There were important match ups across the pitch and there were players on both teams that stepped up in a large way. The keepers in particular ensured that the game would have to be won with a strong goal, and both Morgan Ulesich for Willard and Lauren Cook Hannah Haghayeghi did their part with stops on breakaways and in the box.

Maddie Jansen and Sarah Johnston were kind enough to spend some time with me following the game to offer their thoughts on what it was like to be a part of Greenwood’s first season.

Patsy Middleton and Regina Bodine also tell about their experience playing together that led to the goal and their pride in being the first team to reach a District final.

Note – the links lead to YouTube, the videos have been uploaded and are processing.

Springfield Catholic – 10
Joplin McAuley – 0