Missouri High School Girls Soccer: Class 3 District 11 Final

Glendale Falcons – 2
Kickapoo Chiefs – 0
The Final began tentatively, as these important games tend to, both teams concentrating on defense and attempting to establish the tempo. The Chief’s best opportunity came in the opening minute when Katie Lynn was fighting for a loose ball with keeper Jacinda Lemon’s on the left side, ultimately cleared by Alix Opfer. Neither team mustered any significant offense as the battle was fought in the midfield. The Chiefs and Falcon’s look very similar strong attacking outside midfielders and hard-working skilled center midfielders looking to create.

The difference maker tonight turned out to be a tactical decision by Coach Rogers, about 25 minutes into the match. That’s when he chose to move senior Emily Jordan from stopper, playing in front of his 4 backs, up to the midfield while inserting Hannah Garrad into the stopper role. It didn’t take long for this addition to the midfield to make a difference as Jordan took a ball straight down the middle of the field for 30 yards before unleashing a hard shot that earned the Falcon’s their 1st corner kick. When combined with the fact that the Chief’s McKenna Adam’s, who can stretch any defense with her speed, went to the bench for a replacement, the Falcon’s were able to compress the Chief’s attack and bring numbers forward.

These factors culminated in the first goal, the ultimate game-winner, by junior Lindsey Sprouse, on an off balance shot that hit the left upright before bouncing across the endline. While the Chiefs never stopped working, they were never able to recreate the offensive effort that had kept the Falcon’s in their defensive end earlier in the half. As we saw in the game against Ozark, the Chief’s have the second best attack in the region when it’s working but it’s a delicate balance and they were unable to recreate the example set in their win over Ozark Wednesday without the bench strength the Falcon’s have shown this year.

The final goal came late, when Jordan sent a ball into Sprouse who touched it to fellow front runner Jeni Frewin. Frewin receives the ball, turns and unleashes a 20 yard shot the keeper can’t push out and the final margin is established.

The Chiefs finish 13-14, winning 6 of their last 9 including their upset of the Tigers following an 0-3 loss to the hosts earlier in May.

The Falcons will play the Joplin Eagles in a sectional match on Tuesday, May 26 at 6:30pm at Cooper #1 at Lake Country Soccer. The winner of the Joplin/Glendale match will play the winner of the Rock Bridge/Jefferson City match in the state quarterfinals.