Springfield MO Soccer

With their 3-0 win over Southside rival Glendale, the Kickapoo Chiefs completed their undefeated run through the Ozark Conference this season and positioned themselves as the team to beat in District and Sectional play.

It was an enjoyable game, featuring a pair of skilled teams that know each other well. It also pointed to the value of momentum, in particular the first goal. The Falcon’s had the early pressure in the game, working aggressively to send Devon Newport into the box. The Chief’s did what they needed to do to keep Glendale from scoring, including Colton Sexton’s clearance off the line of a ball that slipped through the keepers hands in the 5th minute and Skyler Russell’s clearance at the left upright of Ryan Squires header in the 11th minute . In between these two opportunities, a nifty sequence of three touches outside the box sent Newport into the box where his hard cross got past a diving keeper only to see the first games hero, Tucker Downs, just miss his opportunity on a possible tap-in.

In the 15th minute, the Chiefs saw their first clear opportunity go off the upright as Heath Melugin broke towards the box. A minute later he had another chance, following a foul, and this one set the tone for the remainder of the game. Melugin’s direct kick from the left side found the far corner and there was no looking back for Kickapoo. That goal settled them down and allowed them to play their game. They took advantage of the situation when in stoppage time in the first half, Clint Evenson tapped-in the Chiefs second goal, getting to the loose ball that resulted from McCarthy’s initial save of a Ryan Moses shot.

The Falcon’s came out hard in the second half and came close to scoring in the 42nd minute when Ryan Squires set piece from just inside the midfield line went off the cross bar. Keeper Adam Legg did an excellent job of reacting to the ball and pushed the ball wide as a pair of Glendale players attempted to head it in. As the Falcon’s continued their high intensity attack, the Chief’s Melugin anticipated a square pass that he picked up deep in the defensive end. His quick through ball sent Brock Ruggeri in on goal, putting his shot past the keeper from 16 yards out after lone defender Squires slipped and fell while trying to turn with the ball.

The Falcon’s had several more opportunities, including a hard shot by Newport in the 70th that Legg dove to his right to push wide and another shot off of the crossbar in the 77th minute. It was not to be however as the Brown & Gold nation evened their record with the Falcon’s this season and sent a message to the region.

KOLR10 video Kickapoo Scores Soccer Win Over Glendale