Monthly Archives: March 2010

Jefferson City Jays Looking To Post Season Again

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Jefferson City Jays, Kara Steiner

Jefferson City Jays, Kara Steiner

Here’s a look at a regular visitor to both the Ozarks as well as the post-season from Central Missouri, the Jefferson City Jays coached by Matt Stacey.

Lady Jays soccer team looks to build off good season

The Jefferson City Lady Jays know they have a target on their backs. Success will do that to you. And that’s just fine with the Lady Jays, coming off their second consecutive district title and a trip to the Class 3 soccer quarterfinals.

“We’ve got our minds set to go far into the postseason,” Lady Jays coach Matt Stacey said. “But we know people are going to be gunning for us.”

The team returns several starters, including a handful of seniors who have started since they were freshman.

One of the senior starters is Kara Steiner (pictured above), rumored to be a Drury Panther’s signee.

The Jays opened their season Monday at the Bi-State Shootout in St Louis, winning 3-0 over Alton Marquette.

ST. LOUIS – The Jefferson City Lady Jays opened the soccer season Monday with a 3-0 blanking of Alton (Ill.) Marquette in the opening round of the Bi-State Shootout.

“I can’t remember the last time we won our first game of the season,” Lady Jays coach Matt Stacey said.

KC Wizards Open Season Tonight Against DC United

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John Mayer in concert in a KC Wizards jersey

John Mayer in concert in a KC Wizards jersey

Game Time is 7pm at Community America Ballpark as the Wizards begin their 3rd season in the friendly confines. The big story besides opening? With Kansas City stumbling through the 2009 season, then Technical Director Peter Vermes fired head coach Curt Onalfo and saw the team through the remainder of the season. Now the two will go head to head on opposing sidelines for the first time. Both clubs have playoffs on their mind this year after missing out a year ago.

D.C. United and Kansas City faced each other to close out the 2009 season and they will meet to open their 2010 campaigns. On the final day of the 2009 campaign, and with its playoff chances hinging on collecting three points, United sputtered to a 2-2 draw with the Wizards and narrowly missed the postseason. The Wizards equalized on a penalty kick in second half stoppage time. Both sides’ rosters have drastically changed this offseason, but that doesn’t mean D.C. doesn’t remember how disappointingly last year ended.

I’ve added the KC Wizards entire schedule to my calendar (right sidebar), it’s Blue (of course) and anytime you want to see just their schedule, click on the arrow in the top right and uncheck the other boxes.

If you’re looking for a preview, here is one from Soccer by Ives while Down The Byline looks at his anticipated lineup which includes our home boy Jack Jewsbury in the central midfield again. Finally, it looks like the KC Star has stepped up and created a dedicated soccer blog covering the Wizards and Midwestern Soccer. That’s where I found the John Mayer photo, used in this case as I pander to the young female soccer player audience in this town.

You can watch tonight’s game if you have Direct Kick although it appears that Mediacom locally is not providing the games this year which is disappointing. That means I’ll be watching the Chicago Fire who are opening at New York Red Bulls (on ESPN) in the inaugural MSL game for the facility. There are also a pair of games on Fox Soccer Channel later this evning. Real Salt Lake at San Jose Earthquakes (8pm CDT, Fox Soccer Channel/FSE) and New England Revolution at Los Angeles Galaxy (10 pm CDT, Fox Soccer Channel/FSE)

Friday Soccer Report – Vikings Win Opener, Chiefs Fall in KC

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Shelby Stewart, Parkview Vikings (2010)

Shelby Stewart, Parkview Vikings (2010)

Parkview Vikings – 8
Carthage Tigers – 0
On a cold evening on the turf at JFK Stadium, the Vikings attacked the visiting Tigers this evening much like their namesakes did 1200 years ago. While the Tiger defense was stout and worked hard to keep the attackers at bay, the ramparts were breached once the the Vikings applied their secret weapon – speed! The opening goal came as senior Shelby Stewart, a Missouri State Bear signee, found space and made a direct run down the center of the defense from 40 yards out. Her shot as she entered the box found the lower left corner in the 18th minute and the the walls quickly came down.

Parkview scored three more goals in in the next six minutes to take control of the game. Junior Kelsey Loderhose scored after winning the battle for a ball in the box with the GK and a defender, sr Jessica Maerz (Lynn University) hammered one into the roof of the net after a run down the left side and Loderhose got her second of the game as she ran onto a corner kick from Maerz.

The Vikings got four more in the second, from Maerz, McKenzie Payton, Loderhose and ? for the final margin. The Tigers were able to get into the Vikings box several times during the game, with both Jessica Diaz and Jamileth Henriquez creating problems for the defense but were unable to score. The highlight for the ladies came late when GK Phylicia Lewis stopped a penalty kick that was awarded for a hard tackle in the box.

Nixa Eagles – 3
Lebanon Yellowjackets – 0
Nixa got goals from Courtney Frerichs and a brace from newcomer Lauren Moats, to earn the win. Kelsey Bartell had assists on the 1st and 3rd goal, Rachel Murphy on the 2nd goal. Shutout: Kristin Miller

Blue Springs South Jaguars – 2
Kickapoo Chiefs – 1

Park Hill South Panthers – 2
Ozark Tigers – 1
Alicia Collard gave the Tigers the initial lead on her goal in the first half, assisted by Shannon Lacker. Park Hill knotted the score a minute into the second half on a quick counter attack. The Panther’s got the game-winner in the 67th minute on another quick counter attack. The Panther’s are ranked #10 in the preseason poll (Glendale is #9).

Jefferson City Jays – 1
Hazelwood West – 2 (2nd OT)
From STLhighschoolSports: The Wildcats win on a goal with 3 min remaining in the 2nd OT by Suzy Ryan. The Wildcats were clearly the more skilled of the two teams but they only had one goal to show for it in regulation. Kim Hawn put her team up 1-0 with a high rocket over the outstretched hands of Jays keeper Kelsey Vaught with 14 minutes left in the first half.

Jefferson City’s Kinsey Shouse tied the game 1-1 with 19:32 remaining in the second half on a penalty kick.on a low screamer past Hazelwood West goalkeeper Ashton Aubuchon, who dove but had no chance to stop it.
The win helped Hazelwood West improve to 4-0 while Jeff City fell to 3-1.

Lance Parker Featured As Miami FC Model

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Miami FC Players in new uniformsMiami FC, a USSF Divsion II team playing in the newly restructured North American Soccer League (NASL) has rolled out their new kit (uniforms). Former Missouri State Bear Lance Parker was featured prominently in the story ou can check out here. You understand why I chose this picture right?

The season opens for Miami the week after Easter when the Rochester Rhinos visit on Saturday April 10. Home games are played at Lockhart Stadium which is in Ft Lauderdale I believe.

Kickapoo Chiefs Opening Season In Kansas City

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Kickapoo Chiefs, preseason practiceReady to shake off the cold and rain of preseason, the Kickapoo Chiefs head to Kansas City this weekend to play a pair of games that have become their season openers. Blue Springs South is the opponent this evening, followed by Park Hill South on Saturday. The Ozark Tigers are also making the trek and playing games against PHS tonight and BSS tomorrow.

The Chiefs open the season with more unknowns then I can recall in my five plus seasons of covering the team. Coming off of their District Final loss to Glendale last year, Kickapoo finished 13-14 while winning 6 of their last 9, including their upset of the Ozark Tigers in the semifinal following an 0-3 loss to the hosts earlier in May. Regardless of turnover, there has always been a go-to player, most recently Amanda Dominguez (3rd Team State) and others like Chelsea Russell, Rachel Lavoy and Afton Weimer. While lacking in name recognition, the team does not lack in talent and returns a core of six starters and an experienced goalkeeper.

As a coach you want a strong midfield, a reliable goalkeeper and someone who can put the ball into the net. Kickapoo Coach Phil Hodge will address those needs with senior, and Southwest Baptist signee Megan Melugin partnered with juniors Marin Gelsheimer and Katie Lynn in the middle, sophomore McKenzie Danzer in goal and junior McKenna Adams up top. Except for Danzer, who began 2009 as starter due to injuries, all are returning starters. Add in defensive starters sr. Hilary Carr and jr. Kate Bess, along with sr Lauryn Young, and the Chiefs have the core they need.

I felt that the Chiefs strong finished correlated with the development of their defense last year, when Carr became comfortable with her leadership responsibilities in back following a year off from soccer. By tightening the defense, it enabled the Chief’s to win games that were lost when their offense couldn’t match the other teams. The same requirements will be in place this season as the team looks to integrate five new starters who probably won’t be identified until mid-April and the Kickapoo Shootout.

The games this weekend are good tests for the team, against Blue Springs who finished 3-13-1 last season, falling in the first round of District play to St Teresa’s Academy. . The Park Hill South Panthers finished 19-4 last season, falling to District Champion Liberty Jay’s 6-1 in the final.

Next week they have 3 games, including facing two of the top three teams in the region when they face off against Glendale on Wednesday and Catholic on Friday. This team will be challenged early this season but they have already shown an ability to grow. I’m looking forward to following that progression.

By the way, the game Wednesday against Glendale will include a Fundraiser for Kickapoo basketball Coach Stephanie Phillips. More information can be found on the Kickapoo Chiefs website.

Columbia Hickman Kewpies Seek State Playoff Run

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Katie LaRue, Columbia Hickman vs Rolla Bulldogs (2008)

Katie LaRue, Columbia Hickman vs Rolla Bulldogs (2008)

The Kewpie’s have opened their season with a 2-0 run, with wins against Timberland (4-1) and Pembroke Hill (2-0) leading up to this weekends Rolla Tournament where they will face Springfield Catholic and Rolla on Saturday.

Following their win against Pembroke, the Columbia Daily Tribune chatted with players and Coach Tony Gragnani about their goals for the season:

The Hickman girls soccer team began its season with a roster boasting nine seniors, a deep bench and a goalie Coach Tony Gragnani calls “one of the best keepers in Missouri.” Add in a new system and some outsized expectations and last year’s six-win campaign is a distant memory.

“I think this season will turn out pretty well,” senior goalie Monica Ross said. “We expect a lot of wins.”

Her coach, citing his team’s competitive, hard-working style, went further.

“Our goal is to win districts and to advance to the state tournament,” Gragnani said. “Anything less than that, and I think this team would be disappointed.”

Game time tonight against Catholic is 6:45 pm. Look for updates via Twitter and on this site.

SGFsoccer.com Tweets on 2010-03-26

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  • 2010 FIFA World Cup finalists Mexico were held to a scoreless draw by Iceland in… http://ow.ly/16SQkn /via @FIFAWorldCupTM #
  • Become a Fan of the Google Springfield Facebook page, Friday is the deadline! http://www.facebook.com/googlespringfield? #SGFsoccer #
  • The Rolla Central Fed Invitational has canceled Friday's games. A new schedule Saturday is available in my Calendar. #
  • Soccer cancellations! Kickapoo vs Branson! Nixa vs West Plains! Carthage vs Carl Junction! Anymore? #
  • Rekindle the memories of the Bronze Boot rivalry as the Cougars & Billikens take to the pitch on 4/3, 5 PM at Soccer Park. /via @ACStLouis #

Thursday Soccer Report – Cancellations!

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Soccer ball on wet pitchNixa Eagles vs West Plains Zizzers – RESCHEDULE DATE APR 26
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Kickapoo Chiefs vs Branson Pirates – POSTPONED
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Carthage Tigers vs Carl Junction Bulldogs – POSTPONED
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Lebanon Yellowjackets vs Springfield Catholic – CANCELLED
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Camdenton Lakers vs Hickman Kewpies – RESCHEDULED, April 14th
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Helias Crusaders -
Moberly –