Cassville Wildcats – 3
Harrisonville – 1
The Wildcats trailed 1-0 at half, a position they had never been in so for this season. Cassville came out fired up in the second half. Their first goal was scored by Uziel Franco off of a beautiful cross in front of the goal by Ryan Schlichtman. The go-ahead goal was scored by Schlichtman on an assist by Aaron Jamieson. The final goal of the night was a free kick from Franco from about 35 yards out. The Wildcats’ record is now 22-1. Cassville Democrat story
The Wildcats will face Smithville in the semi-final on Friday. Smithville is ranked just behind Harrisonville in the final regular season poll . Based upon a report on their District win, it could be a fun game to watch.
Update – KC Star article on Cassville game as well as Pembroke Hill, Crocker’s opponent this Friday.
Crocker Lions – 2 (via PK’s)
New Covenant Warriors – 1
In a game that was tied 1-1 already in the first half, neither team was able to break through for a decisive goal over the next 80 minutes, including two four overtime periods.
Crocker took an early lead on a corner kick that was sent the far post by #24, Michael Linggi, and struck down into the goal with a strong header by #0, Nathan Rigsby.
With 8 minutes remaining in the first half the Crocker defense failed to clear the ball and Warrior Stephan Jones made Crocker pay for the mistake as he took the errant clear and placed a shot on frame from 23 yards out.
The game was a back and forth affair from there on out. Crocker, being the more physical team, was not giving New Covenant time to control the ball. Crocker went hard at every ball and caused New Covenant problems in their attempt to play a possession game, as the Warriors weren’t able to hold the ball in the midfield and were therefore denied the opportunity to play the ball into their forwards.
Both keepers came up with big saves late in the second half preventing the game ending in regulation. Crocker had a corner kick shot blocked late in the game and Crocker’s keeper pushed a late Warrior shot over the bar for a save. The ensuing corner kick was knocked out of play and regulation ended on a Crocker goal kick.
As the temperature dropped, from a comfortable 52 at the start of the game, to a frost building 35 by the end of game the first overtime period saw the play being controlled by the more aggressive style of the Lions. The Warriors were able to stave off several penetrating runs and went into the second overtime period with a bit of the momentum going in their favor. The last five minutes of second OT found the Warriors in a position to play their style of game. This change in the game helped build confidence in the Warrior’s game and the best chance at victory came 4 minutes into the third OT when Jones found himself dodging Lion defenders on his way to the goal. He put a nice ball across the front of the goal where his teammate found himself chasing the pass across his body and the ball rolled harmlessly over the line for a goal kick.
Both teams found the inner-drive to go another 10 minutes. Both teams played furious pace; yet neither was able to capitalize on the other’s mistakes.
After 120 minutes of play the teams put their future on the feet of 5 of their teammates:
Crocker made a keeper change – putting senior Michael Linggi Nathan Rigsby into the goal for the shootout.
NCA went first and the shot was blocked – Crocker’s PK found the back of the net.
NCA found the net on their next shot – Crocker’s shot was saved by the NCA keeper.
NCA slipped their next shot past a diving Lion Keeper – Crocker’s keeper took the next shot and drove the ball into the goal. 2-2 through three
NCA’s fourth shot hit the post – Crocker’s went in. 3-2 Crocker
NCA’s fifth shot was blocked – Crocker wins in PK’s (3-2)
Final score: NCA 1 – 2 Crocker
The Lions, in only their second season of play and with a coed squad, advance to the Class 1 Final Four this Friday where they will face Pembroke Hill (KC), a regular participant in the Kickapoo Shootout.
Congratulations to Cassville, from a SCHS team that had to play you three times this year – we know you are competitors and will play hard to the end! Play hard all the way to first place! Good luck and keep winning!
Congrats to Cassville on a great season and a trip to the final four!! You guys deserved it more than any other team I have ever played aganst. Thanks for playing soccer the way it is supposed to be played, there is not enough that can be said for that. You guys are a class act! congratulations!!!
There is no feeling good about this one. NCA left no doubt about who the better team was but when the time came, Crocker took it. NCA couldnt get any rhythm going much to Crockers doing of playing kick ball. NCA had ample chances and just couldnt get one last one to go; one off the post, one off the crossbar, several shots just a bit wide or high.
To the Seniors, congrats on making the first repeat in NCA history, that is something to be proud of. And if I am correct, this was NCA best season record wise as well finishing 18-6-1. Not bad. To the younger guys, keep your heads up. You continue to have something to work towards and that is sending NCA to St Louis for the first time. I look forward to seeing us back here next year.
As the season winds down, thanks again Steve for all that you do to provide coverage. Soccer is growing around here at a steady pace and it a joy to able to follow it with your site.
Congratulations to the NCA Warriors, you played a great season and are back to back District Champs! Returning just 4 starters and a new coach from last year’s District Championship team and making it this far is definitely something to hold your heads up high about! You gave us fans something to be excited about! Thanks for a great season.
District 6 has become a very competitive district with amazing teams – thanks Coach Shull for your comments – its so easy to look past your competition and focus only on “my” team, but you showed us all what a classy coach and person really is! Nice comments on all the teams – and oh so accurate!
Steve Olson – thanks for the awesome coverage of soccer in SW MO – you are the greatest source for ANY type of soccer news!
There was actually 4 OT’s periods in the NCA vs Crocker game, not 2. It was a great game!! Good luck to Crocker!!
The Kansas City Star story had an error in it. Ryan Schlichtman scored Cassville’s second goal.
It was Nathon Rigsby (District 5 MVP) who went in for the goal change in the shoot out. (Jefferies) Don’t bash Crocker for playing kick ball if that was enough to beat NCA. Both teams hustled and played their hearts out. This being only their second season the upper classmen haven’t played since they were 10 and 11. And we start 4 freshmen. So right now kick ball and hustle is working. Congrates to NCA and keep it going lions.
Where do I bash? I stated that when the time came to take the game, Crocker did just that. If you can get bye with playing kick ball, more power to you, most cant because you are just feeding the ball to the other team over and over again. I was just stating that NCA obviously wasnt ready for it because it was clear it took them out of their game.
Sorry Jefferies. I agree it took NCA out of there game and maybe Crocker playing so poorly at Catholic caught NCA off guard too. You have some great teams down there in district 6 hopefully we can keep playing each other in the reg. season to build up district 5 teams experiance. Crocker isn’t the only 2 year team in our district and rummer is we will be adding another team from central mo next season. Once again that was a great game last night. Congrates to everyone
ONLY ONE WILDCAT LEFT, KING OF KINGS!!!!!!!!!!
!VIVA CASSVILLE!
Question? If at a quarter final game your team plays and ties the other team, goes in to 4 over times and does pks to decide it, is the opposing team allowed to switch out the keeper from the game to a field player?
Crocker is gonna get hammered in the final four!
Any player that was on the field at the end of the last OT can be the keeper for the shoot out.
according to what rules can he
Overtime rules state any player on the field at end of overtime is avalible for shoot outs. When the refs. record there nunbers they don’t ask anything about goal keepers the only thing the have to keep track of is the 22 same players on the field. I have seen a coach use 5 goal keepers in a shoot out so the young team had the pressure of it spread out among the team.
I was going to say the same. Anyone on the field can be a keeper. You can have one for each different shot it you would like.
bigkongas – as far as I’m concerned, you’re spamming my site posting the same comment on multiple stories. behave yourself.
crocker lost both games 4 zip and finished 4th in State for Class 1
In response to 4 lions sports. Crocker didn’t play poorly at Catholic, they got beat by a much better team, both technically and fundamentally. I believe the final score was 6-1.
To clarify the rule questions. NFHS rules differ from USSF and NCAA in certain situations. Overtime procedures are by state adoption and the PK routine is spelled out in the rule book.
MSHSAA this year adopted to end any regular season match that has gone 2 10 minute overtimes to go to PKs
MSHSAA also adopted that a state playoff game, districts and beyond shall play 2×15 minute overtime periods instead of the previous ruling of 4×10 minutes. In the event of a tie the PK procedure shall take place.
In PKs from the NFHS rule book and by state adoption:
Head referee chooses the goal.
Coach will select any five players, including the goal keeper, on or off the field (except those who may have been disqualified) to take the kicks.
The defending team may change the goalkeeper prior to each penalty kick.
If MSHSAA changed the rules to two 15 minute OT periods, then it sounds like BOTH Crocker and NCA have something to complain about! How do the refs NOT know the OT rules?! Why did they do four 10 minute OT’s and not two 15 in that game. The game could have had a different outcome, especially if one of the teams had momentum going at the 9 1/2 minute mark, only to be shut down with the blow of the whistle at 10 minutes. How ridiculous and saddening that we are paying referees to be this ignorant of the rules, or to just make up what they want!
Congrats to both teams for playing well all season – obviously you both did something right along the line to get to this game. I believe NCA was the better skilled team, but if you walk onto the field looking forward to the next game, you’re going to get beat! Crocker doesn’t have the skills, but they had desire and they won. Too bad you needed the skills at the final four level! Tough losses.
I was at the NCA vs Crocker game, just going into the game you could see who wanted it more. For Crocker only being a 2nd year team, they are doing a great job!! Skill only goes so far, who ever wins just goes to show who the better team is, it was evident that Crocker wanted it more than NCA. Not many other 2 year, public school, coed teams can say they went to state. Good job Lions and good luck next year!!