Ashlee Rightnowar, Rolla Bulldogs (2011)

In Class 1, Springfield Catholic is firmly at the top of the initial poll with 9 first place votes. Greenwood finished just outside the Top 10 as well.

In Class 2, Harrisonville received votes. The Wildcats are defending District champions and will fight Warrensburg and Bolivar in District 12 this year. #10 Westminister is in town this weekend to face Glendale tonight and Catholic tomorrow.

In Class 3, Nixa opens the year ranked #12, with Jackson (Cape) at #13, Glendale at #15 and Rolla right behind the Falcon’s. There are a pair of KC teams are at the top and there are six STL teams and five KC teams in the Top 11. It’s going to be a good year at the Final 4 I think…

GIRLS SOCCER POLL (4-8-11)

Class 3
Rank Team Points
1 Liberty (2) 81
2 Lee’s Summit North (1) 80
3 St. Joe’s Academy (2) 78
4 Incarnate Word (1) 76
5 Ursuline 64
6 Eureka 57
7 Lee’s Summit West 45
8 Rockwood Summit 41
9 Park Hill South 37
10 Ft. Zumwalt West 34
11 St. Teresa’s 29
12 Nixa 27
13 Jackson 18
14 Oakville 14
15 Glendale 8
Others: Rolla 7, Howell North 6, Lee’s Summit 5, Rock Bridge 5, Cor Jesu 5, Kearney 2, Howell 1

Class 2
Rank Team Points
1 Visitation (3) 61
2 St. Dominic 57
3 Notre Dame de Sion (2) 55
4 St. Charles West (1) 47
5 Notre Dame STL 46
6 Platte County 29
7 Smithville 22
7 Duchesne 22
9 Moberly 15
10 Westminster 12
Others:  Clayton 7, Liberty North 7, Harrisonville 4, Trinity 1

Class 1
Rank Team Points
1 Springfield Catholic (9) 133
2 St. Vincent (2) 118
3 St. Pius X (Festus) (2) 109
4 Orchard Farm (1) 98
5 Bishop LeBlond 78
6 Pembroke Hill 62
7 St. Paul Lutheran 37
8 St. Pius (KC) 35
9 Barstow 33
10 O’Hara 23
Others: Greenwood 18, Southern Boone 9, Kennedy 8, Lutheran KC 7, Sacred Heart 7, Lutheran North 5

Be sure and vote!

I’ll try and name as many as I can. Feel free to leave a comment or send me a note using the Contact form with more details.

Back row: Clay Mason, Adam Benton, Jake Meyers, John Reinart, Bryan Horton, Ian Newport, Josh Hunt, Justin Rogers, Brandon Baum, Ryan Frewin, Stephen Conner, Danny Collins, Taylor Hutchens, Todd Buzbee, Jacob Basecke, Ryan Frierson, Andrew Parsons, Josh Keisker, Brian Henderson, Brik Wilson.
Middle: Devon Newport, Chris Pellham, Michael Nesbitt, Ryan Sanders, Ian Shipps.
Front row: Lorin Opfer, Lindsey Sprouse, Maddie Senkosky, Ben Brixey, Ryan Partch, Jamie Keisker, Jamey McLean, Katie Starcke, Kristy Ward, Jeff Rogers

Updated courtesy of Coach Rogers

SLU Billikens Ian Newport, Ryan Moses, Devon Newport

Video highlights for all Age Groups on US Youth Soccer website

Moses (Kickapoo Chiefs) and Newport (Glendale Falcons) both previously played for Springfield SC, earning State Championship titles at U16 and U17. Their new team is a result of recommendations by their college coach to allow for additional playing time with three of their Billiken teammates who are also part of the team.

UPDATE – the Gallagher boys fell to the KC Wizards 0-1 on a 28th minute goal scored by Ethan Bauer for the KC Wizard Juniors who advance to the Regional final where they will face the Columbus Crew Juniors Wednesday at 8am.

Class 3
1 -Incarnate Word Academy
2 – Liberty
3 – Nerinx Hall
4 – Lee’s Summit North
5 – St. Joe’s Academy
6 – Pattonville
7 – Hazelwood West
8 – Lee’s Summit
9 – Glendale
10 – Park Hill South
11 – Howell North
12 – Rockwood Summit
13 – St. Teresa’s Academy
14 – Lafayette
15 – Ursuline
Others: Cor Jesu, Howell Central, Jeff City, Marquette, Rock Bridge, Rolla, Truman

Incarnate Word are the defending state Champions while Liberty, with U17 National pool player Kaysie Clark, will look to earn the KC slot that Lee’s Summit North captured last year with their 5-3 win in the Quarterfinal. Pattonville finished 3rd in 2009, blasting Glendale 4-1 in the consolation game at State and have one Missouri State recruit (Laughlin) on their roster. The Falcons, who I covered last week, bring back a strong squad that have an excellent opportunity to return to State in 2010. They have three teams from District 10 in Jeff City, Rock Bridge and Rolla that will work to prevent that from happening.

Class 2
1 – St. Dominic
2 – Notre Dame St. Louis
3 – Smithville
4 – Notre Dame de Sion
5 – Visitation
6 – Villa Duchesne
7 – St. Charles West
8 – Cape Notre Dame
9 – Jefferson City Helias
10 – Platte County
Others: Bolivar, Borgia, Harrisonville, Kearney, Moberly, Pembroke Hill, Perryville, Staley, Warrensburg

It was Duchesne that won in 2009, knocking off Smithville with the two Notre Dame programs playing in the consolation games. Helias and Bolivar both lost in the Quarterfinals last season.

Class 1
1 – St. Vincent
2 – Springfield Catholic
3 – St. Pius (KC)
4 – Trinity
5 – Principia
6 – Whitfield
7 – St. Pius (Festus)
8 – Sacred Heart
9 – John Burroughs
10 – Barstow
Others: Greenwood, Orchard Farm, Southern Boone

The Irish will look to improve on last year’s 3rd place finish while St Vincent is the defending champion looking to repeat. Trinity and St Pius (KC) were the other teams to reach the Final 4 last year and it looks like the coaches don’t expect much to change. Greenwood begins their 4th season of play with their first full class that will have to get past Catholic first.

If you haven’t been keeping an eye on the countdown timer, than Monday August 10th will sneak up fast. A week from Monday High School sports will begin in the state. If your son, or daughter, are playing Fall sports there are a few items that need to be in place. You’ve got next week to complete them so your child can be on the pitch from the beginning.

1. A completed physical form.
2. A completed proof of insurance form.
3. Completed citizenship form.

By the way, the video is from Thursday nights 8v8 Kick Around at Kickapoo High School. The Chiefs, Falcons and Ozark Tigers were playing a series of 30 minute games with each school fielding a pair of teams. Two of the Chief’s 3 seniors this year are shown, with Skyler Russell bringing the ball down the left side with a square ball to Ian Kennedy who’s one-timer is blocked by senior Jordan Pitt, with the goal line save coming from senior Brandon Baum. Feels like mid-season already!

If your team IS NOT on this list, then I NEED YOUR SCHEDULE!
Class 3 – Branson Pirates, Camdenton Lakers, Central Bulldogs, Glendale Falcons, Jeff City Jays, Kickapoo Chiefs, Neosho Wildcats, Nixa Eagles, Ozark Tigers, Parkview Vikings, Rolla Bulldogs, Waynesville Tigers
Class 2 – Carl Junction Bulldogs, Logan-Rogersville Wildcats, West Plains Zizzers
Class 1 – Springfield Catholic Irish, Greenwood Blue Jays

Here is a blank spreadsheet you can complete. Download googlecalendar_schedule and complete. Thanks!

Liz Russell (far left) came to Springfield from Oklahoma to play soccer for the Drury Panthers. Her career was cut short by injuries but that didn’t stop her involvement in the game. She was part of the group that brought you the College Recruiting seminar at Drury last year and she’s been part of the Glendale Falcon’s coaching staff for the past three years. She handled the Junior Varsity during that time frame and she was committed enough to the girls that she was on the side lines through the entire playoff run. Now she’s off to Law School at the end of the summer.

Justin Douglass has been working with the Catholic Fightin’ Irish the past two years. When he completed his outstanding career with the Missouri State Bears a year ago he agreed to help out with the girls team, taking on the JV girls last Spring. This past year, as he completed preparation for graduate school (he’s headed to Houston for Opthalmology School) he worked with both the Boys and the Girls and supported the varsity squads as well. Admitted to graduate school, the last of his teammates long gone when the MSU campus cleared out, he noted to me “I’ll pack up and leave AFTER the Irish complete their playoff run”. His commitment to the players and the team wouldn’t allow him to leave before then.

We have benefited greatly from the commitment he and Liz made to soccer in our community. I’m going to miss both of these player/coaches. The good news is based upon what I’ve seen of their character and commitment, they’ll be impacting kids and their community for a long time. Thanks Liz and Justin, or Coach McD as the girls called him. At least that’s what I think it was

Who should attend: All elementary & middle school kids who love soccer. Our feeder schools are Pershing, Hickory Hills, Wilder, Field, Sequiota, Cowden, Pittman, Bingham and Carver.
What to bring: Soccer gear

Come meet current and past Glendale Soccer players. There will lots of fun soccer games and activities around the great game of soccer. Great prizes!

There will be a parent meeting at 7:45pm.

2008 Glendale Soccer Night

Class 2
Rank Team Points
1 – Incarnate Word Academy (11) 190
2 – Lafayette (2) 182
3 – St. Teresa’s 172
4 – St. Joe’s Academy 150
5 – Liberty 136
6 – Nerinx Hall 133
7 – Lee’s Summit North 101
8 – Lee’s Summit 95
9 – Howell North 89
10 – Ursuline 76
11 – Pattonville 52
12 – Jackson 41
13 – Hazelwood West 30
14 – Parkway South 21
15 – Glendale 16
Others: Cor Jesu 16, Lee’s Summit West 14, Eureka 11, Oakville 7, Rockwood Summit 7, Waynesville 6, Howell 5, Marquette 2

Final regular season poll and the Glendale Falcons finally crack the Top 15 list, after receiving a single vote two weeks ago. Waynesville falls off, likely due to the press from Quincy and the Brine TOC where the rain didn’t do them any favors. District 11 playoffs begin Monday May 12th in Lebanon and seeding is tomorrow. I would expect Waynesville will get #1 which means the final on May 15th will send the clear message.

Kickapoo started at #14 back on March 14th but have fallen off the list. Nonetheless, they have established themselves as the team to beat in District 12.

On a related note, I should have the Girls Southwest All-Star team invitations completed by Wednesday May 14th. There are approximately 20 girls who have played there way onto the team and we are looking to add another 16 or so. If I’m at your game now and you’re a senior, I hope you’re bringing your A-game girl. Make it hard for us to not invite you!

Class 1
Rank Team
1 – St. Dominic (5) 117
2 – Duchesnse (3) 115
3 – Westminster 98
4 – Visitation 95
5 – Cape Notre Dame 82
6 – Notre Dame de Sion 81
7 – Springfield Catholic 64
8 – Notre Dame (STL) 59
9 – Villa Duchesne 41
10 – St. Vincent (Perryville) 38
11 – Moberly 36
12 – Platte County 26
13 – St. Charles West 24
14 – Smithville 20
15 – Warrensburg 10
Others: John F. Kennedy 6, Lutheran South 6, DeSoto 4, Bolivar 1, Perryville 1

Catholic moves up one, swapping places with Notre Dame (STL). No change in the Top 6 although Westminister moves from #6 to #3.

It’s probably self-evident, but I’ve received two cancellations today so far:
West Plains vs Harrison (AR) is moved to Thursday March 27th, still Varsity only and in West Plains.
Jeff City Helias vs Waynesville is moved to Thursday March 27th, still in Jeff City

On a related note, here are some recent stories in the regional papers on the Girls season:

The Waynesville Tigers, with 10 returning starters and 9 seniors, want to advance farther in the playoffs this year.

The Glendale Falcons are also interested in improving on their finish last year after sharing the Ozark Conference title with the Tigers. They want a District title.

While the Chiefs, who have nine returning starters from a team that advanced to the Class 4 state quarterfinals for the second consecutive season, are thinking about the results the boys team achieved.

Camdenton Lady Lakers have two players picked to the Preseason District team and have 8 returning starters.