Player Of the Year: Molly Brewer, Glendale
Offensive POY: Lindsey Sprouse, Glendale
Defensive POY: Emily Jordan, Glendale
GoalKeeper: Paige Hemphill, Ozark
Coach: Jeff Rogers, Glendale
Position Player Year School
F Neva Raschel 11 Branson
M Molly Brewer 9 Glendale
D Emily Jordan 12 Glendale
F Lindsey Sprouse 11 Glendale
F McKenna Adams 10 Kickapoo
M Amanda Dominquez 12 Kickapoo
M Abby Anderson 12 Kickapoo
M Kelsey Haist 10 Nixa
F Rachel Murphy 9 Nixa
M Jayme Braun 10 Ozark
M Rachel Haden 11 Ozark
GK Paige Hemphill 11 Ozark
M Jessica Maerz 11 Parkview
F Shelby Stewart 11 Parkview
F Kelsey Sanders 12 Joplin
F Shelby Murray 12 Neosho
District 1st Team
Neva Raschel – Branson High School
Molly Brewer – Glendale High School
Emily Jordan – Glendale High School
Lindsey Sprouse – Glendale High School
McKenna Adams – Kickapoo High School
Abby Anderson – Kickapoo High School
Amanda Dominguez – Kickapoo High School
Kelsey Haist – Nixa High School
Rachel Murphy – Nixa High School
Jayme Braun – Ozark High School
Rachel Haden – Ozark High School
Paige Hemphill – Ozark High School
Jessica Maerz –Parkview High School
Shelby Stewart – Parkview High School
Strong year for 2009 graduates going to play in college. Here are the OPSA Mamba players going on to play at the next level. Great year again for the ladies, click on the image to be taken to the team website.
Brittany Matthews, Ozark Tigers – Mid American Nazarene (NAIA)
Catherine Bunting – Upper Iowa (D 2)
Bianca Holloway, Monett Cubs (boys team) – Maryville University (D2/GLVC)
Abby Anderson, Kickapoo Chiefs – Central Methodist (NAIA)
Amanda Dominguez, Kickapoo Chiefs – University of Arkansas (D I – walk on)
Lauren Copple, Joplin Eagles – NEO A&M (NJCAA)
Ozark Tigers – 3 Kickapoo Chiefs – 0
The Tigers wrapped up the #2 seed tonight with their win over the Chiefs. The game-winner came 13 minutes in when Megan Stodden’s run into the box was rewarded, first receiving a pass from Megan Gunnel’s before slipping between a pair of defenders prior to shooting. While the score will draw plenty of attention, it was Paige Hemphill’s play between the posts that made a significant difference as the Chief’s attack was working well this evening.
A key noted by Coach Tom Davidson was a save on McKenna Adam’s who was able to get inside the box but her shot was smothered by Hemphill who waited to react to the shot. Shortly after that, the Tiger’s counter was begun when #13, Jackie Wacha, came well back into the defensive end on the strong side from her forward position and collected a ball cleared from the box. Her long ball down the right side was just over the head of the defender and sent #18 Alicia Collard streaking towards goal, never a pleasant site for a defense. Senior Eva Schwert (#21) was stride for stride with Alicia and was sent in alone by Collard’s square ball, after pulling the lone defender to her. Schwert easily lifted the ball over the charging goalkeeper and into the right side of the net, just inside the upright to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead in the 32nd minute.
The Tigers had another excellent opportunity only 2 minutes later but Shannon Johnson, and the Chief’s defense, was prepared. Senior Abby Anderson, who creates many opportunities from her right midfield position, in this case was back to block the first attempt while Johnson rebounded to block the 2nd attempt and the 3rd was sent over the crossbar.
The second half saw the Chiefs come out energized and in my opinion they had the majority of the play. The key to the Tigers success this season, at home in particular, is their discipline and patience. They’ve learned to keep the ball on the ground and work the short passes on the artificial surface, a lesson that usually requires at least one half for the visitors to learn. The Chief’s responded well but their two best chances, both by sophomore Marin Gelsheimer #(15), saw her 20 yard shot go just over the cross bar and her run into the box blunted by Hemphill.
The final goal was a wonderful counter-attack by the Tigers, with defensive midfielder Rachel Haden collecting a ball in the defensive end who sent Stodden on a run down the right side where there was lots of space. Alicia Collard soon arrived to receive the next pass, heading into the corner before releasing a fine cross to the center of the box. Jackie Wacha (#13) got to the ball before the defender and Taylor Jordan was at the back post to nod it into the open net, a fine reward for her long run made in support of the play from her midfield position.
As I was editing photos, the Amazing Rhythm Aces “My Tears Still Flow” from the Stacked Deck album came on. Probably the theme song for many teams, including the Chiefs, who have had inconsistent offensive output this year. One of my favorite bands, I hope they come back to Wildwood Springs Lodge again soon!
Jefferson City Jays – 1 Rolla Bulldogs – 0
Jefferson City’s Molley Cowley scored with 9 minutes left in the second half and positioned the Jay’s to earn the #1 seed in District 10
Bolivar Liberators – 4 Greenwood Blue Jays – 1
Jonna Welch put in all four goals for the Liberators, as these traditiional rivals battled in Bolivar. The offensive attack the large school Liberators have been using to work their way up the ladder in District 5 was more than the small school Jays could handle this evening, losing only their 2nd game of the year (both to larger schools). #12 Liza Salisbury had the goals for Greenwood.
Joplin Eagles – 1 Joplin McAuley – 0
Lauren Copple scored the first goal when she once again placed a corner kick directly in the net, unassisted. At the half, Joplin was up 1 to 0. Kelsey Sanders’ goal in the second half placed Joplin ahead 2 to 0. With just under 6 minutes left in the game, McAuley’s Arielle Santillian scored.
Glendale Falcons – 4 Kickapoo Chiefs – 2
A Class 3 District 11 match up, the Falcon’s solidified their #1 ranking in the region with their win over the Chiefs. Lindsey Sprouse (2G/1A), Hannah Garrad (1G), Molly Brewer (1G – PK), Emilee Williams (1A), Emily Cline (1A) scored for the Falcons while Amanda Dominguez (1G) and Abby Anderson (1G -PK) scored for the Chiefs.
Rolla Bulldogs – 2 (PKs) Camdenton Lakers – 1
Class 3 District 10 match up went to PK’s Thursday with Rolla winning the shootout 2-0. The Lakers led 1-0 early in the second half before Rolla tied it up at 1 goal each.
Waynesville Tigers – 1 Lebanon Yellowjackets – 2
Class 3 District 10 match up, the Jackets ensured they kept pace with the Lakers and Jays in their pursuit of the Bulldogs for top seed in the District. The Yellowjackets got goals from Emily Boyer and Hannah Winkel.
Joplin Eagles – 2 Hillcrest Hornets – 1
In this Class 3 District 12 match up, Joplin had several opportunities but had a hard time getting it in the net. Joplin scored first when a shot by Kelsey Sanders was deflected by the goalie and Meghan Matheson was there to put the loose ball in the net before it could be cleared. Joplin was up 1 V 0 at the half. Hillcrest tied it up with a nice shot by Erin (#39). With about 8 minutes left in the game, Sanders accepted a nice pass from Yasmin Ulloa, worked the ball down field past the Hillcrest defenders, went one on one with goalie and placed the ball just inside the net.
Richland Bears -
Belle –
Rogersville Wildcats – 3 Willard Tigers – 0
Michelle Crawford with 1 goal, Najee Donson with 2 goals
Carthage Tigers – 1 Carl Junction Bulldogs – 0
Jessica Diaz scored with the assist coming from Jamileth Henriquez
Lafayette Lancers – 1 Smith-Cotton Tigers – 0
Niña Walters scores in the 68th minute for the Lancers. The goal came from an attack that found the Tigers struggling to clear and Walter’s pounced on a ball just outside the six yard box and lifted it to the opposite of the net. Lafayette faces the host Chiefs at 11:30 am on Saturday.
Jackson Indians – 2 (2 OT) Kickapoo Chiefs – 1
Chiefs tie the game in stoppage as McKenna Adam’s heads in a cross from Amanda Dominguez. Jackson gets a game-winner 3 min into 2nd OT from SEMO-bound Bobbi Jo Schlick. She describes her game-winner in the video below.
Glendale Falcons – 1 Rockwood Summit Falcons – 2 (1st OT)
34th min goal by Rockwood’s Meghan Herndon (#2) holds up until the 67th when Jeni Frewin scores from a scramble in the box from a corner kick. Glendale had shots off the crossbar and upright in the final 15 min of regulation but couldn’t get the winner.
That fell to Jr forward Kristin Bright, who turned her defender and buried her shot over the GK head from just inside the box. Kristin partners up with fellow front runner Paige Meggison, who provided the service on the goal, to describe it.
To update you, Rockwood is in District 6 with Eureka, Lafayette, Marquette, Parkway South and Washington. Eureka took the honors at Ozarks early season tourney and Parkway South beat Kickapoo last weekend at the Parkway College Showcase. A very tough public school lineup. Summit hoisted the plaque two years ago, and many of the current players were on that team but lost in the semifinals last year to Lindbergh.
Ozark Tigers – 1 (1st OT) Jeff City Jays – 0
Alicia Collard ran onto Rachel Haden’s header that sent her into the box unmarked 6 min into the 1st OT. She describes it below. Pictured at right is the Jay’s Karla Steiner shooting against defender Jayme Braun and GK Paige Hemphill.
Springfield Catholic – 1 (2nd OT) Rock Bridge Bruins – 0
Scoreless for almost 100 minutes, the Fightin’ Irish avoid PK’s when sophomore Shelby Hatz converts her break away opportunity in stoppage time. The ball came from senior Maddie Renner and Hatz found the focus necessary to finish the play after several earlier opportunities. Find out the difference in the video below.
Parkview Vikings – 2 Parkway West Longhorns – 7
After going down 0-2 at half, the Vikings battled back and found themselves down 2-3 midway through the second half. Shelby Stewart scored two goals to keep the Viking close, both on through-balls followed by Shelby burning a defender with speed and beating the keeper in 1 v. 1 situations. The defense was not able to hold up, however, and the Vikings gave up 5 goals in the second half to lose 2-7.
Smith-Cotton Tigers – 3 Kickapoo Chiefs – 1
The Tigers came out stronger in this 2nd match for both teams this evening, get a pair of goals. The first came as a pair of passes created an opening allowing ? to bury a ball at close range. Mizzou-bound Jessica Greer got the 2nd as the Tigers got numbers into the box and she slid to the far post where she confidently buried a ball that came in over the defense. The Chiefs got one back as sophomore McKenna Adams follows her initial shot and picks up the rebound of Abby Anderson’s shot to go into the 6 yard box and bury a fine left-footed shot into the far side netting.
Smith-Cotton got their 3rd goal in the 2nd half for the final margin. That will make getting up for an 8am match tomorrow a bit easier.
Camdenton Lakers – 2 Central Bulldogs – 0
Camdenton goals by senior Stephanie Kirvan (10) and freshman Danielle Brooks (1). Camdenton sophomore goalie Sandra Shore gets the shutout, but Central’s freshman keeper stole the show with several incredible saves.
Ozark Tigers – 3 Joplin Eagles – 0
Ozark got all three goals in the first half and held on for the win. Alicia Collard got the game-winner in the 17th minute of play, with goals by senior Eva Schwert in the 32nd minute and a long range shot by Jayme Braun in the 38th minute. Story on Tiger’s website.
Marshfield Blue Jays –
Mt View Birch Liberty Eagles –
Greenwood Blue Jays vs Joplin McCauley – canceled
Kickapoo Chiefs – 3 (1st OT) Nixa Eagles – 2
Rachel Murphy would open the scoring for the Eagles, who then gave one up to McKenna Adams of the Chiefs on the ensuing restart. The Chiefs would get their first lead of the game on Abby Anderson’s PK due to an Eagle’s hand ball in the box. The Eagles fought back to tie the game in the 72nd minute when Shelby Zielke sent a cross into the box which found Courtney Frerichs who was able to redirect the ball past the keeper.
The game winner came late in the first OT when McKenna Adams scored on a corner kick. Story on the Eagle’s site
Glendale Falcons – 4 Kickapoo Chiefs – 2
The Falcon’s earned their second win of the season over the Chiefs this evening on the strength of a pair of goals in stoppage time at the end of the first half. Both goals were opportunistic, with fortunate bounces in the run of play that were difficult reminders of the challenges the Chiefs have faced this season. The first, the ultimate game-winner, was scored by Falcon’s sophomore Lindsey Sprouse. An attempted clearance was deflected and “Sprousie” picked up the loose ball and went into the box unmarked before burying her shot. Less than a minute later, season assist leader Jeni Frewin found space on the left side and lifted her shot over the on-rushing keeper to the far post for a 2-0 lead.
The Chiefs imposed themselves on the visitors in the second half, only to see senior Rachel Duckworth deny them in the 49th minute when she some how found the length necessary to push the Chief’s shot wide. A minute later freshman McKenna Adams found the crossbar for the second time in the game before setting up senior Katy McLain for a goal in the 51st. Adam’s was a challenge for the Falcon’s all evening and on this occasion as she drew a pair of defenders on her run down the right side, she slid a square ball into the path of McLain’s parallel run down the left. Chiefs within one.
The rivalry always brings the best out in these ladies however and the Falcon’s attacked with renewed energy. Frewin saw her shot in the 57th go off the right upright with goalkeeper Shannon Johnson covering the rebound in the face of a hard challenge. A corner kick in the 64th was somehow sent over the crossbar, Johnson covered another Sprouse breakaway, but in the 68th senior Lorin Opfer buried a corner kick from Emilee Williams to increase the margin yet again.
The Chiefs got a penalty kick goal by senior Chealsey Russell in the 73rd minute after a push in the box. It required two attempts as senior Rachel Duckworth guessed correctly and blocked the initial shot but Russell didn’t miss the rebound opportunity. The final margin came late on yet another corner kick, this time Frewin running onto Emily Cline’s driven ball.
The Chief’s finish the regular season 10-10, losing their last two games but showing a renewed attack with the return of Russell, Blotter and Anderson from injury. Their District 12 opponents should be forewarned. The Falcon’s finish 17-5, 8-1 in the Ozark Conference, and have a group of seniors who remember well both the joy of District victory as sophomores and the disappointment of last years failure in the semifinals. Someone needs to buy some fireworks for the games in Lebanon next week.
On an unrelated note, did you know Askinosie Chocolate is having an Anniversary Party Friday night? Just in time for Mother’s Day Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm Location: 514 E. Commercial Street
Waynesville Tigers – 3 (2 OT) Nixa Eagles – 2
Reports indicated the Eagles came out and played really well in taking the top-seeded team in the region to two overtime periods. They scored first, in the first half on a direct kick. Waynesville got a pair in the second half, a PK by Katie Pritchard and Lynette Newcomb from Tasha Lord, take the lead. A penalty kick by Nixa tied the score until Pritchard got the game-winner, assist from Erica Combs.
Lebanon Yellowjackets – 10 Central Bulldogs – 0
Senior Abbey Roam scored her first career goal and Emily Boyer returned from illness and scored as well. The Yellowjackets just got tougher in time for Districts.
Rolla Bulldogs – 3 Union Wildcats – 0
Junior Kim Carter netted the first goal on an assist from sophomore Jaclyn Standfast to take the lead in the 8th minute. The Bulldogs also said goodbye to their two seniors, Kaitlin Bramel and Anne Drallmeier.
Kickapoo Chiefs – 2 Ozark Tigers – 0
In a season of surprises and new contenders, a traditional power sent a message this evening that they are not to be counted out, despite losing a fourth starter to injury. On the strength of a pair of goals in a six minute span, the Chiefs evened their record at 8-8 and positioned themselves for the top seed in the upcoming District playoffs. Sophomore Mallory Williams (pictured, in brown) took advantage of a loose ball and an open net in stoppage time at the end of the first half to give the Chiefs the lead. Her game-winner was followed in the 44th minute by fellow sophomore Megan Etter, who found space between a pair of defenders and tapped in a wonderful square ball from Kiley Huslig on the right side of the box.
The Chiefs, who have lost four starters this season -seniors Chealsey Russell, Paige Blotter, junior Abby Anderson and now sophomore Megan Melugin – to significant injuries, have somehow found a way to overcome these hurdles and slowly fight their way back into contention. Slowly but surely they have integrated new players into the system and have found a way to win. That seems to be the key difference for the Chiefs – when they need to win, they have. While not dominating on the scoreboard, they have achieved the necessary results and barring anymore bad luck, have established themselves as the team to beat in District 11. Photo Slideshow
Parkview Vikings – 1 West Plains Zizzers – 0
Parkview got the only goal in the 29th minute. Jessica Maerz shot from yards out on the left side.
Rolla Bulldogs – 1 (PK’s) Jefferson Jays – 0
Joplin Eagles – 2 McAuley Warriors – 0
Joplin’s first score came at 13:11 in the second half on a blast by Stephanie Loden. Loden’s score was assisted by Taylor Sharp. The goal gave the Eagles a boost of momentum.
Springfield Catholic – 6 Marshfield Blue Jays – 1
Shelby Hatz led the Irish attack with three goals and two assists, while Anna DeLong scored a goal and added two assists.
Camdenton Lakers – 9 Willard Tigers – 0
‘(The 14 wins) are the most in a season these seniors have ever had,’ said Camdenton coach J.D. Hunter. Hunter said it was quite a turnaround for his club, which lost 4-0 last season at Willard.
Bolivar Liberators – 5 Greenwood Blue Jays – 1
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm Location: 514 E. Commercial Street
