Micah Whorton scoring the final goal
Drury Panthers – 5
Missouri Southern Lions – 0
The Drury Panthers looked like a finally tuned sports car this evening as they faced their Western neighbors. The goals were all scored from inside the six yard box as the Panthers moved the ball with pace and urgency throughout the game. The first came in the 6th minute when Peter Higgins nodded a header past the keeper that was sent in by Ben Taylor. Marco Cherisma scored a pair, the first in the 13th minute from Taylor’s assist, the second in the 32nd from Steve Wilczewski.
The second goal was a classic, as the play started near the center circle as Higgin’s received a ball that he sent back to Taylor who was already beginning to move forward from his defensive position. Taylor’s give-and-go with Wilczewski 35 yards out was perfectly weighted and sent Taylor in unmarked on the left side. His run into the box allowed him to pick Cherisma out with a square ball that completely exposed the Lion’s defense.
With the #1 ranked University of Northern Kentucky Norsemen game on Friday, the Panther’s began looking to the bench early in the second half and the attack continued. The sense of urgency only seemed to increase as the competition for playing time on this squad is high. Micah Whorton was the primary beneficiary as he scored a brace in the second half, the first as he walked a ball into the net after the keeper went down and the second via header (pictured above) at the far post.
The Panther’s lost their final 4 conference games last year, including a 2-0 loss to NKU in their final home game, eliminating them from the GLVC playoffs. The string began after a 1-0 OT win at MSSU October 7th. While there is an obvious difference on the scoreboard, the key question is will not be ability. As I noted last year, it was not opportunity or ability that doomed the Panthers, it was a lack of discipline. Much like a players success in the transition from high school to college is defined not by athleticism or skill, but attitude, so will the Panther’s success this weekend be determined by their mental toughness.
And lest I forget, the Women will also have a challenge on their hands as the UNK Lady Norse are now ranked #3 in the Midwest Region, just behind Wisconsin-Parkside and ahead of #8 Drury. They just cracked the national rankings as well, at #20.
