Glendale Falcons – 2
Jefferson City Jays – 0
The Glendale Lady Falcons achieved their stated goal of reaching the Final 4 today, a realistic goal accomplished as a result of the new District lineups and because the Falcons have the best offense in the region. While most teams relied on one or two options, the Falcon’s have the top 3 with Sprouse, Brewer and Cline always ready to go forward and attack the goal.
Freshman Molly Brewer got the game-winner today when she nailed a header from Emily Jordan’s corner kick in the 62nd, alone at the top of the six-yard box and resolute in the face of the goalkeepers charge (pictured above, you can see bits of her behind the keeper just as she’s nodded the corner kick towards goal, the only red in a sea of white defenders). The final goal came when Emily Cline, freed from the responsibilities of marking the Jay’s Kara Steiner when she was moved from right midfield to forward, found space going forward and volleyed Katie Brewer’s cross in the 69th.
It was never certain, not until the final whistle as the Jay’s continued to fight, but it was not a game with a lot of offensive highlights either. The teams spent most of the first half in the midfield, attempting to establish control of the flow of play in the face of nerves, the highest temperatures of the season, and a pitch that is at it’s peak in the Fall season but offered primarily a dirt surface in the central area.
The Falcon’s midfield – Cline, Katie Brewer, Emily Jordan, Mindy Rose Moffe and Molly Brewer (left to right with Molly Brewer in an attacking position) – went about their responsibilities in a workmanlike fashion while probing for weaknesses. It wasn’t until the 2nd half when they won several corner kicks in succession that they created the pressure they needed to finally break down a Jay’s defense that had gone through the entire playoff period without giving up a goal.
Congratulations to Holly Robinson (Glendale 2004) who won her 1st game as a High School coach.
The Falcons will play the defending state champion Incarnate Word Red Knights at 7:00pm on Friday, June at the AB Center in Fenton. Last year’s Quarterfinal against IWA was a 0-5 loss for the Falcon’s. IWA knocked off Nerinx Hall 1-0 tonight.
Lee’s Summit North has booked a ticket to the Final 4 with their 5-3 win against Liberty (wow!) and they are joined by fellow Public School participant Pattonville who knocked off Cor Jesu 3-2 earlier today. 3 Public School teams, including one from St Louis. What a Final 4 this will be.
I’m guessing it will be IWA vs Lee’s Summit North in the Final.
