First Annual J&K Soccer Tent Sale

jandksoccer.comJ&K Soccer would like to announce their first annual tent sale the dates of October 1st and 2nd 2010. J&K Soccer will be hosting a tent sale at their location at 2335 E. Chestnut Expressway from 10am to 6pm on Friday October 1st, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday October 2nd.

Sales items will include soccer apparel, shoes, and novelty items. To make room for new inventory J&K Soccer is pricing current styles and lines to sell.

For more information, or for directions please contact J&K Soccer at 417-866-9999.

Willard Soccer Tournament Opens

Willard Tigers logoThe games open with a pair of games today and another pair on Friday, which will lead to the winners and losers brackets that kick off on Saturday morning at 8am. Games are being played on both the East and West Fields, located behind the Willard East Elementary School, accessible from Highway O/Kime Street

Tonight’s Games:
Cassville Wildcats – 4
Logan-Rogersville Wildcats – 0

Willard Tigers – 8
Hillcrest Hornets – 0

Friday’s Games:
Game 3: Bolivar vs New Covenant at 4:00 (West Field)

Game 4: Webb City vs Monett at 4:00 (East Field)

Saturday’s Brackets:
Game 5: Winner of game 3 vs Winner of game 4 at 8:00 am (West Field)
Game 6: Loser of game 3 vs Loser of game 4 at 8:00 am (East Field)
Game 7: Winner of Game 1 vs Winner of Game 2 at 10:00 am (West Field)
Game 8: Loser of Game 1 vs Loser of Game 2 at 10:00 am (East Field)

5th place game will be played at 12:00 pm (East Field)
3rd Place game will be played at 12:00 pm (West Field)
Championship game will be played at 2:00 pm (West Field)

There will not be a 7th place game.

Sep 30th – Nixa Shuts Out Ozark, Mike Howard Win’s 300th

Nixa Eagles – 1
Ozark Tigers – 0
A goal in the 18th minute by jr Jameson McFadden, assisted by JR Corey Cann, provided the difference on the scoreboard tonight in this Christian County derby. The goal was the culmination of a sustained attack by the Eagles as the kept the visitors under constant pressure from the outset.

Sr Ryan Bilyeu kept the game close for the Tigers as he blunted half-a-dozen shots while his defense worked hard to keep Nixa from an easy goal. While Ozark worked hard to generate an attack of their own, it wasn’t until the 32nd min that they got into the Eagles box, earning a corner kick.

Photo Gallery (or see a sample at bottom of the page)

The 2nd half was more even but the midfield duo of Cann and Drake Trease, club teammates with Springfield SC, bring a fluidity and control that make Nixa a team to watch. If they can generate a more consistent offensive output, they could be a handful in late October. Check out my interview with them below. There is also a highlight video down below with the photo gallery of an early opportunity that is a good sample of the Eagle’s attack in the 1st half.

Preview: at Nixa Jr HS, this COC and District 11 game is being promoted as the Backyard Brawl

Greenwood Blue Jays – 3
Branson Pirates – 1
at Greenwood, a pair of goals scored by Stuart Beezley, the first assisted by Cory McCoy, gave the Blue Jays a lead they would not relinquish. Branson got close when Kyle Hoeck scored late in the first but Tim Looney sealed it with his unassisted goal in the second half. The Jays play Aurora Friday evening for their Homecoming game.

Laquey Hornets -
Osage Indians -

Joplin Eagles – 4
Parkview Vikings – 1
at Joplin, an Ozark Conference match up that goes to the home team. Two days after knocking off upstart Waynesville, the Vikings are unable to generate the offense they need.

Republic Tigers – 0
Marshfield Blue Jays – 1
Marshfield goal by Colton Harden (28th minute). Game was played at Kickapoo. Very solid performance by first year program Republic. Fourth shutout of the year for the Marshfield defense.

Aurora Houn’Dawgs – 0
Webb City Cardinals – 6
at Aurora, Webb City got goals from Brandon Mahaffey, Alex Christian, Matt Reynolds, Brandon Shultz, and Kyle Handley (2)

Helias Catholic – 0
Rolla Bulldogs – 1 (PKs)
at Jeff City Helias, tonight’s game was the 300th Boys win for Head Coach Mike Howard

Nixa Eagles early opportunity versus Ozark Tigers


Southwest Missouri Class 3 Boys High School Coaches Poll

Backyard Brawl - Ozark at Nixa

Backyard Brawl - Ozark at Nixa

The second poll of the season has been released by the Class 3 Coaches. It now looks closer to what we have seen for the six years I’ve been covering the regional game.

1. Carthage 10-2 (40)
2. Glendale 6-3-1 (34)
3. Kickapoo 8-2 (32)
4. Nixa 8-2 (18)
5. Ozark 8-3 (8)

Carthage remains in first place although their lead has narrowed (from 48-37 in the first poll to 40-34 here) and Glendale has now moved in front of Kickapoo and Nixa who move from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th respectively. Ozark replaces Joplin in the final spot.

Nixa and Ozark face each other tonight in what the Ozark Tiger’s website is calling the Backyard Brawl. Nixa hosts tonight in a game that includes COC and District seeding implications. Varsity game time is approximately 6:15 at Nixa Jr High, home of the Eagles.

Carthage has the weekend off, returning to play Monday against COC foes Branson. The Tiger’s shutout District opponent Willard on Tuesday and wait to play Joplin in late October to determine top seed in District 12.

Glendale and Kickapoo head to St Louis this weekend, along with Catholic, to play in the Gateway City Classic (more info shortly).

Sep 29th Games

Crocker Lions

Crocker Lions

Richland Bears – 2
Crocker Lions – 7
at Richland, the Lions got goals from Jessie Tart(2), Austin Rogers (2), Teddy Zeigenbein, Sawyer Brown and Cory Porter

Camdenton Lakers – 2
Helias Catholic Crusaders – 1
at Camdenton HS, the Laker’s goals were scored by Robbie Hoffman, a penalty kick, and by Kyler Moore (Sal Laferla assist). Helias scored their only goal with 5:00+ left. Rumor has it that Rayder Bennett is once again on the pitch and his recovery is complete.

SLIAC: Westminster Blue Jays Fall at Fontbonne Griffons

Kaitlin Bramel, Fontbonne Griffins (2012) against Westminster

Kaitlin Bramel, Fontbonne Griffins (2012) against Westminster

Fontbonne Griffins – 1
Westminster Blue Jays – 5
Fontbonne opened the scoring with a goal by #7 Robyn Meesey with 12 minutes left in the first half. Westminster tied it up in the 50th minute when freshman Megan Gunnels (Ozark/MO Elite SC) finished a ball played squarely across the six by junior Jen Brotherton. Meesey answered back two minutes later when she finished a cross served from deep in the right corner by #22 Tori Preiss. Preiss extended the Griffin’s lead to 3-1 in the 72nd minute with a goal of her own. Meesey completed a hat-trick in the 79th minute finishing a cross from #6 Kendra Schilli. #14 Kaitlin Bramel (Rolla) scored the final goal of the game in the 81st minute to seal the 5-1 victory for Fontbonne.

Game Preview: In an early season SLIAC Conference game, it’s #5 ranked Westminster (4-4, 1-0) visiting the #3 ranked Griffins (2-2-1, 1-0) Tuesday night. Both teams have beaten Spaulding to open their Conference season, Westminster winning by a 3-0 margin while Fontbonne won last week 4-0.

Kim Carter & Kaitlin Bramel, Fontbonne Griffins (Rolla Bulldogs)

Kim Carter & Kaitlin Bramel, Fontbonne Griffins (Rolla Bulldogs)

Fontbonne has a pair of players from Southwest Missouri. Sophomore Kim Carter, a defender has started in 4 games while playing in 5 while her former high scool teammate on the Rolla Bulldogs, junior Kaitlin Bramel has started 3 of the 5 games she’s played in. Bramel got her first goal of the season in the Griffon’s 4-0 Conference win over Spaulding.

Check out the Gallery of 76 photos from the game

Chelsea Cole, Emma Ray & Megan Gunnels, Westminster Blue Jays

Chelsea Cole, Emma Ray & Megan Gunnels, Westminster Blue Jays

The Blue Jays have three players from Southwest Missouri. Freshman Megan Gunnels (Ozark/MO Elite FC) has started 7 of the 8 games played this year and leads the team in scoring. She has 4 goals and 3 assists to lead the team in goals and total points, 11. In addition to Gunnels, the Blue Jays have two sophomores from Southwest Missouri. Chelsea Cole, a defender from Nixa, has played in six games on defense while Emma Ray, a midfielder from West Plains has also played in six games and has a start as well.

Westminster is coached by Jen (Simek) Dyson, a 2006 graduate of Drury, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology. She played collegiately at Drury and appeared in 73 matches during her career. Dyson served as a graduate assistant women’s soccer coach at Drury University for two years before taking the job at Westminster. She married Westminster assistant men’s basketball and men’s golf coach Dave Dyson in 2010.

Missouri State Bears Draw At St Louis Billikens

Heath Melugin, Missouri State Bears challenges for ball

Heath Melugin, Missouri State Bears challenges for ball

St Louis University Billikens – 0
Missouri State Bears – 0
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Missouri State men’s soccer team (3-4-1, 1-0-0) played the Saint Louis Billikens (2-2-2) to a 0-0 double-overtime tie in St. Louis, Mo., on Tuesday night. The last time the two teams played to a draw was in 2000.

Missouri State’s defense held the Billikens to just eight shots, three on goal. Senior goalkeeper Alex Riggs made all three saves. The shutout is the first for Missouri State in the 13-game series history.

The Saint Louis defense was equally as tough as the Bears were only able to muster six shots in the match. Paul Paradise led the Bears with two shots. Edin Sabic had the Bears’ lone shot on frame and it came in the second overtime period. Missouri State registered three of its six shots in the second overtime.

Saint Louis earned five corners in the match while Missouri State had two. The physical match saw double-digit fouls on each team.

The Bears will continue their extended road trip with a visit to Northwestern on Sunday, October 3. Kickoff in Evanston, Ill., is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Missouri State’s next home match is on Saturday, October 16, at 7:00 p.m. against conference foe, Drake, at Plaster Field.

OLE’S NOTES: First, a shout out to MSU Alum Zack Larsen who pulled 60 alumni and fans to the pre-game event tonight. He applied the lessons he learned in Missouri State’s Entertainment Management program well.

The game tonight saw limited offensive opportunities with the Billiken’s coming closest, only one from the run of play if memory serves. When the Billiken’s did get into the box, goalkeeper Alex Riggs and his defensive line delivered. Thomas Vania and Cal Roselieb both made key saves and Rigg’s controlled his box. The first half belonged to the Billiken’s as they controlled the majority of the play while the second half saw the Bear’s take a more aggressive approach that led to a stronger attack. Unfortunately the set pieces were unreliable tonight with balls exceeding players reach. Not a loss, as the defense is strengthening as the Conference schedule begins but not a win. As our enthusiastic SID notes, it’s the first time in 12 meetings that the Billikens were held scoreless.

Sophomore Devon Newport (Glendale/Springfield SC) played the entire match except for the final OT period for the Bill’s. Junior Heath Melugin (Kickapoo/Springfield SC) continues in his starting role for the Bears but was held without a shot in tonight’s game.

Preview:
Saint Louis (2-2-1) hosts Missouri State (3-4-0) Tuesday at Hermann Stadium in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Tournament first-round game, won by the Billikens. SLU is coming off a 1-0 overtime victory against Drake Saturday while Missouri State won at Central Arkansas, in their MVC opener, on an OT goal scored by Gerard Barbero. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m

Pre-Game EventFacebook Event Page
Tonight is the big “Meet and Greet” at OUR Bears Den to be held at the Buffalo Brewing Company 1 block from Saint Louis University’s Hermann Stadium. Coach Jon Leamy will be in attendance around 5:00PM and will spend some time with Bear Fans, MSU Alumni, and families before the game. Event organizer, Zack Larsen expects 40 or so folks at this point to attend!

The first 50 people who attend OUR “Bears Den” at the Buffalo Brewing Company (located 1 block from the stadium) can sign a pass list and be admitted to the game free of charge. Yes folks this is not a misprint, FREE OF CHARGE!!! Zack will make the pass list available at the admission gates by 6:45PM. Also, any Bear fan can print the special Missouri State Voucherand be admitted to the game for $4 (half price). You can print as many as needed!! Tickets at the gate will be $8 for an adult and $6 for a youth 12 and under (without the voucher).

For information, contact Zack Larsen at (314) 303-9019.
Buffalo Brewing Company website: http://www.buffalobrewingstl.com/

Tue Central Ozark Conference Soccer

Bolivar Liberators -
Logan-Rogersville Wildcats –
At Bolivar, the Wildcats are coming off a win against District foe West Plains as they take on the District 9 leaders and Conference foes.

Carthage Tigers -
Willard Tigers -
At Carthage, the hosts will look to solidify their District 12 rank as well as their pursuit of the Large School Central Ozark Conference crown against visiting Willard

Marshfield Blue Jays -
Springfield Catholic –
At Marshfield, the Blue Jays will take on the COC Small School defending champions as the work to position themselves for Class 2 success in District 9