Liberty Jays Go 1-1 In St Louis

The Jays have traveled across the State to take on a pair of St Louis powers. First stop, Incarnate Word, just South of I-70 near UMSL and today St Joe’s, near Frontenac. I’ll have pictures from both games on Sunday along with an expanded report.

Liberty Jays – 3 (PK’s)
Incarnate Word – 2
Coach Annie Beekman was channeling her inner Mourinho in Friday’s game, coming out in what I would describe as a 4-1-4-1, in the hopes of blunting not only Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year Shea Groom (pictured) up top but also the Jay’s quality midfield. She and the Red Knights almost achieved their goal, taking the lead twice in this game (in each half) before giving up tying goals that led to PK’s after a pair of scoreless overtime periods. The Red Knight’s had one shot go wide right and another blocked. The Jays had one shot go off the upright, leading to Shea Groom’s final shot from the spot that gave the visitors the win, 4-2 in PK’s.

Liberty Jays – 1
St Joe’s Angels – 6
The Angel’s dismantled the Jay’s today, beating them by the largest margin since Lee’s Summit North in Spring 2008. Coach McVey’s strategy called for a 4-3-3 with man marking on the Jay’s two wingers and attacking midfielder. A deep sweeper helped protect from breakaways and the Angel’s chose to go toe-to-toe with the Lady Jay’s.

Photo Gallery – Jays at St Joe’s

The Jay’s played without Kaysie Clark this weekend (injury) and lost Shea Groom in the 50th min of the St Joe game after she collided with one of the referees (a disadvantage to two-man crews obviously) and did not return.

Groom, who will play at Texas A&M in the Fall, trained with the US U20′s last month.

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