Tillie Bill, Southern Boone Co Eagles (2010)
Player of the Year – Tillie Bill, Southern Boone
Co-Offensive Players of the Year – Shelby Hatz and Natalie Smid, Springfield Catholic
Co-Defensive Players of the Year – Carsen Baron and Rebecca Mayus, Springfield Catholic
Co-Goalkeepers of the Year – Rachel Scott and Megan Goetzinger, Springfield Catholic
L to R: Natalie Smid, Shelby Hatz, Carsen Baron, Bekah Bade, Ronnie Renner, Rebecca Mayus, Erin Fitzgerald
The Missouri Soccer Coaches Association has release their 2010 Girls Class 1 All-State recognition.
Player of the Year – Tillie Bill, Southern Boone
Offensive Player of the Year – Abby Lappe, St. Vincent
Co-Defensive Player of the Year – Carsen Baron and Rebecca Mayus, Springfield Catholic
Goalkeeper of the Year – Taylor Zerbe, Trinity
Coach of the Year, Private – Ben Timson, Springfield Catholic
Coach of the Year, Public – Chris Miller, Southern Boone
Carsen Baron, Springfield Catholic (2011)
Head Coach Ben Timson and I took some time after the celebrations on Saturday to discuss his title-winning squad and its traditions. It’s a history that stretches back to 1998, very early in Southwest Missouri annals although not the first. I believe that belongs to the Rolla Bulldogs who first kicked off in 1996.
The photo features the Fitzgerald and Renner families who have contributed 7 players over an 11 year period to the program, culminating in Erin Fitzgerald and Veronica “Ronnie” Renner bringing home the title. It’s just one example that continues when you discuss names like Bailes, Dahlberg, Skahan and many more.
Front row, L to R: unidentified with child, Shannon F (2005), Katherine F (2002), Erin F (2010), Hannah R (2007), Maddy R (2009), Ronnie (2010)
Back row, L to R: Mr Fitzgerald, Mr & Mrs Renner
Apologies if I got any of it wrong, leave corrections in the comments and I’ll update it 
Springfield Catholic – 3
Kickapoo Chiefs – 1
Despite the weather, there was a nice crowd out this evening for the annual derby between Catholic and Kickapoo. Once again the Chief’s tested their opponent early and it took a quality save by Rachel Cook, pushing McKenna Adam’s hard shot over the crossbar in the first 5 minutes, to keep Kickapoo off the scoreboard. Catholic took the lead in the 15th minute when Bekah Bade made a run down the right side before sliding a square ball to Shelby Hatz. Hatz collected the ball, went wide and then cut past the defender before sliding her ball to the far post between the onrushing GK and a second defender.
Following a 30 min lightning delay, Catholic got another goal, this time from the penalty spot. Bade was sent in alone on goal when Hatz slipped a sweet little thru ball into her path, before being taken down in the 6 yard box. Renner, one of three seniors on the squad, buried her shot past the diving keeper for the 2-0 lead in the 29th. Catholic got their third goal when senior Erin Fitzgerald sent a cross to the far post that Natalie Smid fought to get to, and redirect into the net. McKenna Adam’s got the Chief’s goal in the 60th when she buried a shot from 35 yards but Kickapoo went down once again from a lack of offense.
The Chiefs also lost their 2nd central midfielder in one week when sparkplug Marin Gelsheimer twisted her ankle in the 2nd half, an injury that may require some recovery time. She joins Katie Lynn, who tore ligaments in her ankle at Lebanon on Tuesday, on the bench. Lynn, who’s attitude on the pitch belies her soft-spoken and positive outlook, is out for the season unfortunately.
As to being reflective, I hope it’s worth noting that tonight’s game marks five (5) years of coverage here in the Ozarks. The first game I covered on this website was Catholic at Kickapoo on April 1st, 2005. You can see the highlights of that game here. It was another two years before Catholic finally achieved a long time goal of defeating the Chief’s when Elle Holtmann and Tara Bailes led them to an OT classic and the first of what is now 3 straight wins over their crosstown rivals.
When I began, the question was whether Glendale, Kickapoo or Rolla would win District or Sectionals. In that time period we’ve seen first Catholic and now Ozark develop into top teams in the region. I think it points to an overall improvement in the girls game in the region as more teams compete and compete at a higher level. Bolivar broke through with their first District title in Class 2 last year and Camdenton hopes to match the boys team in challenging Rolla and Jefferson City this season in Class 3. Will Ozark’s senior class, which beat Catholic two weeks ago, return to the playoffs that they last visited in 2001?
We have some time to find that out but for now I know that I can also get satisfaction from seeing the Hillcrest Hornets get past Willard, who turn around and beat defending District champions Joplin, the following evening. Competition. It’s not easy to deal with but it forces us to get better and I’m happy to see that happening here in the Ozarks.
I’ve included a photo below that shows the traffic numbers for this site from day one to present, with over 230K total visitors and 500-1000 daily visitors during the season. The High School game is the highest traffic generator but as Jeremy Alumbaugh likes to note, hopefully we are creating soccer junkies via this site and that means learning more about the world’s game and going beyond the boundaries of our schools. That’s always been my favorite part and I hope that is happening for you as well. Enjoy.
Washington Blue Jays – 6
Waynesville Tigers – 0
The Blue Jays, who play in the GAC in suburban St Louis and whose boy’s team competes in the same district as Waynesville, made the trip down I-44 for tonights match. Jack Hittinger covers it in the Waynesville Daily Guide
A steady downpour made the Waynesville High School girls’ soccer team’s home opener miserable. Julia Burns made the night even worse. The Washington senior scored four goals and added an assist in the Lady Blue Jays 6-0 win over the Lady Tigers on Friday night at Slaughter Field.
If you’ve made it this far, I’d appreciate it if you’d take some time and share your thoughts with me, either via the comment’s or by using the contact form (see the top navigation bar). What do you like? Is there something I’m missing that you think I should cover? Have I screwed something up? Help me make this a better site by letting me know what works and what doesn’t work. Thanks and here’s to another five years!
Bekah Bade, Catholic scoring from a corner kick
Logan-Rogersville Wildcats – 2
Branson Pirates – 0
A pair of goals in the first 20 minutes provided the difference in this early season COC match up. The first goal came from freshman Haley Weeks, followed by jr Stevie Heidzig who once again scored on a direct kick against the Pirates. This one came from 25 yards out and without the dramatics of her OT game-winner at Branson last year. Second straight shutout for GK Kelsay Leingang, who won in PK’s Monday against Carthage.
Helias Crusaders – 4
Waynesville Tigers – 0
From the Jeff City News-Tribune: Up 2-0 at the half Tuesday, the Helias Lady Crusaders were in control of their game with the Waynesville Lady Tigers. They just didn’t look smooth doing it. “It was a little bit of chaos,” Helias soccer coach Chuck Register said. “We needed to settle down a little bit, start thinking a little bit instead of just reacting.”
Ozark Tigers – 5
Harrison Lady Goblins – 0
From the new OzarkTigerSoccer.wordpress.com website – Senior forward Alicia Collard (pictured above with freshman Morgan Davidson) opened the game up for the Lady Tigers with a hat trick in the first twelve minutes of play.
Hickman Kewpies – 2
Pembroke Hill – 0
From the Missourian The Hickman girls soccer team has been practicing corner kicks lately. It paid off on Tuesday evening when the Kewpies scored two goals off of corner kicks to defeat visiting Pembroke Hill 2-0.
Laquey Hornets –
Dixon Bulldogs –
Head Coach Ben Timson with Jessica Smits (back left)
The Irish return ALL of their Regional players from last year, including Co-Offensive POY Shelby Hatz and Natalie Smid, Co-Defensive POY Rebecca Mayus and Carsen Baron, along with Erin FitzGerald and Andrea Parker, all juniors except for central midfielder Erin Fitzgerald, one of three seniors on the squad. The other seniors are Veronica Renner and Rachel Herron and the Irish have TWO quality keepers in Rachel Scott and Megan Goetzinger. A plethora of riches for Coach Ben Timson and new assistant, Jessica Smits, last seen roaming the pitch as a left back for the Missouri State Bears.
The most significant loss was emotional leader Maddy Renner, now matriculating at Central Missouri, but with a varsity roster that includes 20 players with experience at State the girls are primed to make a second straight visit this year and leverage that experience in the same fashion as the boys team who captured 2nd last Fall. So, where do you think they will finish?
I’ll be visiting several other schools during the next two weeks while compiling team schedules and rosters. Look for more as we head for the opening game of the season this year which will be Monday March 22nd at Ozark High School where the Tigers will host the Irish. Mark your calendar now!
Player of the Year: Tillie Bill, Southern Boone
Co-Offensive POY: Shelby Hatz, Springfield Catholic
Co-Offensive POY: Natalie Smid, Springfield Catholic
Co-Defensive POY: Rebecca Mayus, Springfield Catholic
Co-Defensive POY: Carsen Baron, Springfield Catholic
Goalkeeper of the Year: Rebekah Dowd, Southern Boone
COY-Private: Ben Timson, Springfield Catholic
COY-Public: Chris Miller, Southern Boone
Position Player Year School
D - Carsen Baron, SO - Springfield Catholic
D - Caroline Jensen, JR - Greenwood
D - Rebecca Mayus, SO - Springfield Catholic
D - Shelby Tinney, SR - Joplin McAuley
D - Jessica Bennett, SO - Southern Boone
D - Kelby Wheeler, SO - Southern Boone
F - Maddie Esther, JR - Greenwood
F - Shelby Hatz , SO - Springfield Catholic
F - Arielle Santillan, SR - Joplin McAuley
F - Hannah Schiltz, SO - Southern Boone
GK - Rebekah Dowd, JR - Southern Boone
MF - Erin FitzGerald, JR - Springfield Catholic
MF – Andrea Parker, SO - Springfield Catholic
MF - Maddy Renner, SR - Springfield Catholic
MF - Natalie Smid, SO - Springfield Catholic
MF - Maddie Smith, JR - Greenwood
MF - Jae Stephens, SR - Joplin McAuley
MF - Tillie Bill, JR - Southern Boone
MF - Katie Curtis, FR - Southern Boone
MF - Kelsey Greer, JR - Fatima
#3 McAuley Warriors – 4
#2 Greenwood Blue Jays – 3
In a game that mirrors the regular season match up between these two schools, it was McAuley that storms back from a 3-1 deficit to first tie, and finally win the match this evening. A replica of Greenwood’s results at McAuley in late April. Greenwood set the tone early when Maddie Esther buried a shot from 35 yards out in the 3rd minute of the match. Midway through the half, freshman Sara Cook got through the defense and scored to push the Jay’s ahead as they put together a beautiful game for the first 30 minutes tonight. Ball movement, team defense, it was all there but slowly the Warriors clawed their way back into the game. The first goal was scored in stoppage time in the first half and came from senior Jae Stephens as the Warriors fought to keep the ball in the offensive end following a corner kick and Jae put a loose ball into the roof of the net.
The Jay’s came out strong again in the 2nd half, extending their lead to 2 yet again when Mariah Allai received a pass on the left side of the box and slid her shot to the far post in the 47th minute. There was plenty of action for both teams in the remaining 30 minutes but the momentum, and the win, went to the upstarts. The Warriors got their 2nd goal in the 53rd minute when senior Arielle Santillan finally broke free of the Jay’s tough defense and her shot as she entered the box went just inside the right upright. The Jay’s still had a one goal lead and midway through the half were awarded a PK for a push in the box. Sarah Onstot was able to dive to her right and push the PK wide of the net however and you could begin to sense that maybe things might not go Greenwood’s way. When Santillan got past the defense and knocked her shot in off the right upright in the 68th minute, the tension was palable. It was the Warrior’s who responded to the situation as their team of 13 did not quit. When they earned a corner kick in the final three minutes, it was the third shot that did in the Jays as sophomore Samantha Graham was able to corral an attempted clearance and push it back into the box where senor Erin O’Keefe was able to react to the ball and lift it into the roof of the net above the charging keeper.
Quite a game and a testament to the effort and teamwork that McAuley was able to display. For Greenwood, a difficult lesson made all the more harsh by the quality of play they showed in the first third of the game.
For Newcomers to my website, if you click on any photo you will be taken to the photo hosting site I use for sharing my photos with the community. The address is www.flickr.com/photos/sgfsoccer and you can find an Album (or Set) of your favorite team. Or check the Archive and search by the date the game was played. I also have a site where you can purchase the original high resolution photos, as prints or on calendars, costers, tshirts, you name it. I’m having some internet issues with AT&T right now so it may take a day or two before all of the photos are uploaded. Use the link in the top right (Buy Photos) to revisit and find an album of your favorite team.
#1 Springfield Catholic – 10
#4 Laquey Hornets – 0
Natalie Smid, Anna Delong and Andrea Parker scored two goals each while Maddy Renner, Ronnie Renner, Erin FitzGerald and Bekab Bade each added a goal. Emily Kessler, Shelby Hatz, and Natalie Smid each had two assists. Emily Ortega and Maddy Renner each had one assist. Rachel Scott and Megan Goetzinger combined for the shutout in goal in the 64 minute match.
The final between McAuley and Catholic will be Thursday at 6pm at Pleasant Hope HS.
For those of you sneaking peeks during commercials of the Mizzou game, sorry for the lack of photos. Flickr got 98% done and stalled, so I left my office. This is getting updated at Maria’s with a traditional margarita and the Mizzou game to keep me company – go Memphis (says the UMR grad). I’ll try and get the photos up tomorrow before I leave for the weekend (no, I’m not afraid of snow, I’m carousing in STL this weekend with a friend from Chicago who’s flying in. Not quite Spring Break but some R&R before the season gets into full swing)
Marshfield Blue Jays – 4
Hillcrest Hornets – 0
They weren’t carousing on the pitch at Hillcrest tonight but there was plenty of energy to keep the crowd entertained. The first half was like a basketball game as play went back and forth, neither team able to establish themselves 20 minutes in when the Hornet’s 4 year starter in goal, Jillian Gerkey, was forced to put a shot by Alex Cantrell (on left in photo) up and off the crossbar. The Jays continued to pressure and got what proved to be the game-winner in the 24th minute when #18, Danica Norstrom, ran into the right corner to pick up a loose ball. Her square ball, across the face of the goal at the top of the 6 yard box, found #11 on the back post where she reliably buried the ball into the back of the net.
The Jays would get 3 more goals from 3 different players, including Alex Cantrell’s first goal of the season 4 minutes into the second half (Alex was Marshfield’s top scorer last year as a freshman). Alex buried a ball on the Jay’s 3rd opportunity after Gerkey made two saves but didn’t get any help from her defense. In the 50th, #18 scored a very pretty goal when she made a strong run to the back post on a direct kick by #16, Ashley Honeycutt, that was sent to the back post from the left touchline 35 yards out. The final goal was scored by Honeycutt on a scramble off a corner kick at the back post.
The Jay’s look positioned to compete in District 5, with a nice combination of talent. Alex Cantrell (#22) appears to have free rein to go wherever she fells needed on the pitch from her midfield position, there are a pair of speedy wingers who can chase down balls in the corners and Honeycutt (#16) is a smart, fast sweeper who kept the goalkeeper from needing to make many plays this evening.
The Hornet’s, missing half a dozen players due to Spring Break, should compete this season with Carthage, Central and Willard in the district. Erin Boschen, a playmaker and favorite of mine, is out until late in the season due to injury but it’s a large and energetic group that came out this season, led by #29 Danielle at sweeper and #15 Alicia Ortero at forward. I’ll be out again to watch them surprise some teams.
Springfield Catholic – 3
Lebanon Yellowjackets – 1
Tonights game at Catholic brought out the aficionados tonight, interested in seeing what these two teams are going to be capable of this season. The answer was a positive one for both squads, despite the score. In a game that was fought in the midfield in the first half, the second half saw things open up as rain and early season conditioning (or the lack thereof) changed the flow of the game. Catholic scored first, in the 55th when following a corner kick the Irish were able to keep the ball in the offensive end until Erin Fitzgerald pounced on a ball outside the six yard box and slipped it past the keeper (pictured).
In the 64th, Catholic’s field leader Natalie Smid picked up a loose ball in the defensive end and after a 20 yard run slipped a ball into the path of Emily Ortega who was making a run down the left side. Two touches took her just inside the box and her left footed shot curled to the back post, well beyond the reach of the keeper. It was a beauty.
The Yellowjackets are not to me underestimated this season as they reminded me tonight. They came right back down and after earning a corner kick, senior Janel Glidden buried Hannah Winkel’s ball to bring Lebanon back within one. I’ll have to dig into the roster further, once Coach get’s it to me, but unless Jeff City steps up I would expect that Lebanon and Rolla will renew acquaintances in the District final this year.
Catholic was not done, they never are, and tonight was no different. The final goal was scored by #22 Natalie Smid in the 73rd minute as she buried a ball from inside the 6 yard box, after the Irish once again kept a corner kick down inside the Yellowjackets box. It was only a question of time as she had half a dozen excellent opportunities tonight, with left and right footed shots that were just wide this evening. Kids, if you want to learn what it means to run a team come out and keep an eye on #22 in green.
Nixa Eagles – 8
West Plains Zizzers – 0
At the half only 2-0. 7 different players scored… Rachel Murphy had 2 goals, Jo Pavlowsky, Courtney Frerichs, Kelsey Bartell, Vicki Rische, Ashlyn Robillard, and Tatum Mangum had 1 apiece. Kristin Miller got the shutout.
Carthage Tigers – 2 (PK’s)
Carl Junction Bulldogs – 1
Carthage scored first on a goal by Jessica Diaz. Carl junction scored near the end of the second half. Game ended 1-1 and the teams went two overtime periods without any scoring. Jessica’s pictured in white against Logan-Rogersville earlier this week.
Carthage get’s their first win from the penalty spot against their neighbor and one of the areas other new programs, converting their 2nd and 4th shots while CJ converted on their first PK. Categorized under History!
Laquey Hornets – 6
Richland Bears – 1
Junior Emily Murray scored three goals for the Lady Hornets (now 1-1) while senior Shelbee Cowart, freshman Blair Cristoffer and Capi Burnat added one apiece. Richland’s Couri Braithwait scored the lone Lady Bear goal.
