Ozark Tigers Soccer

The Ozark Lady Tigers defeated the Kickapoo Lady Chiefs for the first time in the program’s history on Thursday night in Joplin.  And in doing so, also earned the title of District Champions for the first time since they began competing in Class 2 District 12.  It was a huge accomplishment for this young squad of talented players.

It was freshman Jayme Braun who made the early statement for the Lady Tigers.  She challenged the Kickapoo keeper for a 50/50 ball near the left post one minute into the game following a shot taken by sophomore midfielder Rachel Haden.  Jayme won the challenge and hustled to put the ball into the goal before the keeper or any of the Kickapoo defenders could stop her.  Braun’s effort gave Ozark the early lead, and the battle was on.  Attack and counterattack moved the ball up and down the field.

Kickapoo finally leveled the score three minutes before halftime on a corner taken by junior Erica Freiert.  Kickpoo had proven often this season that they are a serious scoring threat on set pieces, and they continuted to demonstrate that throughout the championship match.  Sophomore Megan Etter, one of many finishers in the box for Kickapoo, was able to settle the ball sent in by Freiert and finished it solidly to tie the score at 1-1.

Both teams came out and continued to push for the game winning goal in the second half.  It was Ozark sophomore Megan Gunnels who finally found the opportunity to score with just 2 minutes left in the game.  Junior defender Evie Curtis sent a ball from the back over Kickapoo’s defensive line.  Gunnels got a jump on the defenders and raced to the ball.  She took a touch on the run about 25 yards out, and then lofted a shot with perfect pace over the charging keeper, the ball rose over the keeper and then dipped into the goal.  The Ozark players, coaches and fans were in the air!

But Kickapoo, lead by senior Chealsey Russell, was not finished.  They continued to fight, and fight hard to find a way to get back in the game.  As an Ozark fan, it seemed to be the longest two minutes of stoppage time in the history of the sport . . . and Kickapoo took advantage of every last second.  Senior Chealsey Russell, who worked extremely hard all night, and because of her hustle seemed to be everywhere on the field, made a final run down the right side of the field in the closing seconds.  Against the odds, and because of her effort and desire to win, she got a cross off with less than 5 seconds left in regulation time that was placed perfectly on the foot of freshman McKenna Adams on the near post.  Adams finished remarkably to send the game into overtime.  The first OT of the year for the Ozark squad.

So the battle raged through two more 15-minute overtime periods with no golden goal for either team, and then it was time for PK’s.

Sophomore Megan Jenisch was up first for the Tigers . . . . GOAL!
Kickapoo’s first attempt . . . . wide left
Sophomore Megan Gunnels up next for the Tigers . . . . GOAL!!
Kickapoo’s second attempt . . . . hit the right post and out
Senior Erica Hogan up third for the Tigers . . . . GOAL!!!
Kickapoo’s third attempt . . SAVED BY KEEPER PAIGE HEMPHILL!!!!

OZARK WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP 3-0 IN PK’S!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS LADIES ON A WELL DESERVED WIN!!!!

The Lady Tigers move on to the sectional match on Tuesday, May 20th, at the Cooper Fields at Lake Country Soccer in Springfield, where they will face Glendale, the winner from District 11. 

This entry was posted on Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 9:29 am and is filed under Girls News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.