Parkview Vikings – 3
Greenwood Blue Jays – 0
On a gorgeous evening, with 75 degree wind chills (had to write that!) the Vikings hosted their small school neighbors at JFK Stadium. Fresh from their tight battle with the Falcons the night before, Parkview came out with a chip on their shoulder and attacked the ball. It’s an approach the Jays are familiar with and they showed good discipline, slowly but certainly working the ball up to Caroline Jansen and Maddie Esther in the middle or Maria Allai on the right side. With a back line that all wear the captains armband (junior Maral Cavner, junior Liza Salisbury and #27), fronted by indefatigable sophomore stopper Maddie Smith, the Jays worked to take advantage of the wind in the first half.

Parkview has a fairly potent strike force however and their aggressive play eventually led to a pair of goals in the first half. The ultimate game-winner was scored by sr. Emmy Dale who won a 50/50 battle for a cross in front of the six yard box, sending her shot to the corner past the keeper. The cross was delivered by sophomore Shelbie Stewart, who had earlier won a 50/50 ball herself and broke down the left side of the field before sending the ball into the center. The second goal was scored in stoppage time and this time it was sr Courtney Ash who found a way to get the final touch on the ball as the GK and two of her defenders collided attempting to clear.

The second half saw the temperature and the fast surface have it’s effect on the Jays as they worked hard to keep up with the regular substitutions and wind aided through balls by the Vikings. They still found a way to get the ball forward and put some pressure on the Vikings keeper but the defense held firm. The Vikings got a final goal on a defensive breakdown as an attempted clearance on the right side was intercepted by Dale who’s shot from outside the box to the far side of the net was indefensible. BTW, that’s freshman Kelsey Loderhose getting to the ball in the photo above, in front of Megan Morris.

Springfield Catholic – 6
Willard Tigers – 0
Shelby Hatz scored three goals and added an assist. Tara Bailes had a goal and two assists. Anna DeLong got the game winner in the 3rd minute. Natalie Smid also scored, the first of her high school career. This is the kind of break out game I’ve been expecting from Hatz since I saw her at the Rolla Classic in late March. A good omen for Catholic.