Pershing Generals celebrate game-winner

The Pershing General’s returned to the winner’s circle this evening, following a three year absence, by defeating the Nixa Eagle’s 2-1. The Eagles opened the scoring in the 8th minute when #43 pounced on a loose ball that was mishandled by the goalkeeper. Unlike the last meeting between these two teams in early May, when Nixa won 3-2 after opening a 3-0 lead, the General’s comeback did not fall short.

Pershing’s first goal was scored Kasey Opfer on a second chance opportunity, when an initial shot hit the upright and came back out into play. That goal in the 21st minute sent the teams to halftime tied and drenched as a cold rain became coming down midway through the half. It was beginning to look like overtime, especially when with 7 minutes remaining Allie’s direct kick from the right side of the penalty area was somehow kept out by Pershing’s keeper.

The decisive blow was struck by Olivia Wolfram in the 68th minute (70 minute games). A diagonal ball from Pershing’s defensive end sent Wolfram towards goal in a foot-race with Nixa’s defense. Two key decisions by Wolfram, first a simple cut back towards goal that turned her defender and created space just outside the box and more importantly, a simple controlled shot to the far post that hit the upright and bounced into the back of the net. A lesson well-learned in patience after I saw her miss 4 or 5 similar opportunities the previous week in the semifinal win over Cherokee. A quick celebration, two minutes of frenzied defending as Nixa pushed for the equalizer and the game was over.

Tonight’s loss was the third straight for the Eagles in the Championship game. The results of that consistent level of play can be seen in their older ‘sisters’ results at Nixa High School. The next step will be finding it in themselves to get past Pershing/Glendale. They accomplished that with Catholic and Kickapoo the past two years. One more larger goal to achieve.

In the JV1 Final that preceded this game, the Bolivar Liberators won 8-0 over the Willard Tigers on six goals scored by #19
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Cherokee vs Pershing, Middle School semifinal

Cherokee Indians – 0
Pershing Generals – 2
The General’s scored a pair of goals in the first half and they were able to hold the lead in the second half against a spirited Cherokee team that has already learned the importance of beating their East side foes. Should bode well for future meetings as the girls graduate to Kickapoo and Glendale.

Nixa Eagles – 5
Catholic Fightin’ Irish – 1
In as strong an example as you can get regarding the changing of the guard (I’m listening to Steely Dan!), it was Nixa that came out on top in this match.

UPDATE – as Bob Jordan notes in the comments, the loss ends two streaks for Catholic. The first is their 3 year run of Championships, which included beating Nixa in the Final the past two years. It also ends their longer 11 year run of playing in the Middle School Final. Check out the Middle School History Page here.

The Final between Pershing and Nixa will be played Friday night, 7:30 pm at the Greenwood Stadium Field. Nixa won 3-2 over Pershing in early May, scoring 3 in the first half and giving up 2 in the second half but holding on for the win.
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Nixa vs Pershing, Middle School Girls

Pershing has a fine website where they offered this view

After a sloppy and uninspired first half where the girls found themselves down 3-0 they roared back in the second half only to come up short 3-2. Goals were scored by Teiera Clancy and Kasey Opfer. What would have been the tieing goal by Olivia Wolfram on a breakaway was blocked the Nixa goalie and resulted in a slightly separated shoulder for Olivia. She’s on the mend and plans to be back on the field for the playoffs.

RESULTS as of May 9th
Nixa (6-0-0) GF 29, GA 2 (they gave up two to Pershing)
Pershing (3-3-0) GF -22, GA – 13
Lebanon (2-3-0) GF – 12, GA – 19
Ozark (2-3-1) GF – 7, GA – 15
Catholic (2-3-1) GF – 12, GA – 23
Cherokee (0-4-2) GF – 9, GA – 19

Pershing Generals – 4
Lebanon – 1
Lebanon struck first as the Lady Generals straggled in from the Track Meet but that was all. The Lady Generals rattled off 4 unanswered points to win 4-1. Kennedy Graves scored a goal and Kasy Opfer had a hat trick. The score would have been much higher had it not been for the Lebanon goalkeeper.

League play will begin January 22 and run through February 26. The fee is $298 for a team of 6; additional players, up to the roster limit of 10, are only $10 per player. An initial deposit of $195 is due by January 5, with the balance due by January 22. Games will be played at the brand new Carl Junction Community Center.

Click on the League tab at www.midwestselectsoccer.org for downloadable League rules and more information. Whether you have an independent team, or a club/school team, we would like to hear from you!

Thanks!!

Middle School, Catholic vs Pershing

The Eagles reach the final for the second straight year, and fall to the Fightin’ Irish yet again.

#1 Nixa Eagles – 5
#4 Pershing Generals – 4
Played in the rain, the two teams battled until the end as Pershing had several late opportunities they were unable to convert. Peyton ? scored four for Nixa to help them reach the final again.

Moved from Wednesday due to weather. The winner advances to the Final against Catholic, scheduled for 7:00 pm Friday May 21st at Lake Country Soccer.

Cherokee and Catholic players challenge for ball, Mar 2010

#2 Catholic Fightin’ Irish – 3
#3 Cherokee Indians – 0

The game between #1 Nixa and #4 Pershing was postponed due to the weather. The game is now scheduled for Thursday May 20th at 6:00 pm, weather permitting.

Kasey Opfer, Pershing Generals

There will be a double header on Wednesday evening (weather dependent) for the Middle School semifinals.

6:00 pm – #2 Catholic vs #3 Cherokee
7:30 pm – #1 Nixa vs #4 Pershing

6th-8th Girls 2009 Nixa Summer Camp

1. Nixa Eagles
2. Catholic Fightin’ Irish
3. Cherokee Indians
4. Pershing Generals
5. Ozark Tigers

Playoff Schedule

Monday May 17th at 6:00 pm – #4 Pershing Generals vs #5 Ozark Tigers
Wednesday May 19th at 6:00 pm – #3 Cherokee Indians vs #2 Catholic Fightin’ Irish
Wednesday May 19th at 7:30 pm – #1 Nixa Eagles vs Pershing/Ozark winner
Friday May 21st at 7:00 pm – Final

All games are scheduled for Lake Country Soccer on Cooper #2 (assuming the lights are fixed, it may move to #3).

Olivia Wolfram (Pershing 2011) scores between a pair of Catholic players

The Irish are now 4-0-1 with a four game winning streak following a season opening tie with Nixa.

Pershing falls to 0-4. After an pre-season win over Ozark, the General’s have only given up 4 goals while scoring none themselves during the losing streak.

Cherokee Indians – 4
Ozark Tigers – 0
The Indian’s finally broke through late in the first half to establish a 1-0 lead to halftime before opening up with three more goals in the second half.

The Indian’s remain in second, with a 3-1-1 record, behind Catholic. Ozark is now 0-3 and will play Nixa tomorrow night.

Photos from the Cherokee vs Ozark game

McCutcheon and Wichmer, Kickin' It For Cancer

Catholic Fightin’ Irish – 2
Cherokee Indians – 1
The Irish took the lead late in the first half this evening when Hannah Kelly Devlin was sent in on goal on the left side. Finding some space down the wing, she was able to get off her shot as she entered the box after turning her defender, with the shot going in off the fingertips of the goal keeper. The Irish got a second goal midway through the second half when Nicole Ortega picked up a ball outside the box and got past a defender before burying her shot. The Indians fought back and when the Irish sweeper slipped on the wet surface Maddie Hotckins pounced on the ball and broke into the box, slipping her shot to the left upright.

Pershing Generals – 2
Ozark Tigers – 0

Hickory Hills Panthers –
Nixa Eagles –