The Vikings came out on a mission, but were stonewalled by Nixa’s goalkeeper in the first half - nine saves in the first half alone. The half ended 0-0. The breakthrough finally came in the 62nd minute when Will Griffin (senior) took a free kick from 40 yards out and put it right on Matt Beckett’s (senior) head. Matt sent the ball far post for beautiful goal, 1-0. Six minutes later Jared Moore (sophomore) collected a ball on the right wing, beat the defender, and crossed a ball into the middle of the box. An onrushing Matt Beckett (senior) volleyed the ball into the back of the net for his second of the night. A very nice buidup from the back of the field brought about the thrid goal. Jared Moore (sophomore) sent a ball into space for Tim Griffin (junior) who collected it and sent a fantastic ball across the face of the goal to Rudy Fotsch (junior) who finished with a rocket into the upper 90 from short range. The final score was 3-0. Nixa had 3 shots on goal to Parkview’s 15. The varsity is now 8-4 on the year.
The JV boys faced a solid Nixa team and friday night, but could not repeat the Varsity’s performance, falling 2-0 to Nixa. While the boys showed signs of their vast improvement over the past few weeks with some good possession and a well orchestrated attack at times, they ended up losing because of the same mistakes that haunted them early in the season: short spurts of defensive letdowns and unlucky finishing. While the boys played solid defense overall, the one or two mistakes they did make were just enough to hurt them, and although the offense had chances even in the last few minutes they weren’t quite able to put them away. The positives however are that the both the defensive mindset and the offensive buildup have come a long way already this season, so the boys will look to bounce back and continue to improve their intensity and smart play.
JV story by Joseph Florez, thanks Joseph
Parkview hosts Nixa tonight with the varsity starting at 4:00pm, JV to follow. Let’s show up in groves to root on our improving clubs tonight, Homecoming night! Good luck boys!
The Varsity played with passion and substance last night, dispatching a very good Joplin team in the second overtime. Parkview dominated possession, with Joplin putting only three shots on goal in the 93 minute match. It was obvious that Max Duncan was not 100%, hampered with a deep ankle bruise. Jared Moore (sophomore) had two early shots on goal, one an excellent save by the keeper on a low driven shot. In the 29th minute Leland Ekstam (junior) headed a ball off a corner kick that almost started the scoring but was cleared off the line by a Joplin defender. In the 57th minute Joplin had what was probably their best chance of the match when a foul was called at about the twenty to the left of the goal. Max Duncan lined it up and put it over the top. Parkview pressed at the end of the match but was unable to finish and regulation time ended 0-0. The first 10 minute overtime saw Parkview holding possession and testing the Joplin defense but to no avail. Early in the second overtime, in the 93rd minute, Morgan Holt (junior) lined up a corner kick and played a beautiful ball that was finished by Kyle Kutz (junior), heading it down and into the goal for a 1-0 Parkview win! This is another quality win for this team after beating Cape 2-1 on Saturday. We’re starting to build some momentum, let’s keep it going boys!
After averaging almost 3 goals against per game, the Parkview JV boys focused on defense stepped up well against the Joplin JV, giving the team only their second shutout in seven games. Both teams controlled play at times, but due to stingy defenses on both ends neither team had any great scoring chances, leaving the score 0-0 at the end of play. After both of them scored a goal in the last few games, both Tanner Bennett and Blaze Keith have shown the ability to contribute consistently to the offense and tempo of the game with high energy and aggressive play. Blake White as well has been versatile enough to be a shut-down outside back as well as an offensive force as an outside mid. Thanks to all around better team play, an improving offensive attack and solid defensive play, in their last three games the JV team is 1-0-2, scoring 3 goals and giving up only 1.
The JV update by Joseph Florez, thanks Joseph!
Parkview will host Joplin today on JFK. The Varsity will play first at 5:30pm followed by the JV.
Parkview went north to Waynesville and the threatening weather cut short an excellent JV match. Waynesville came out and scored a good goal in the 8th minute to take a 1-0 lead. In the 28th minute the referee awarded a penalty kick when Vance Marlow (junior), Michael Duff (sophomore), and #22 from Waynesville got tangled up at the top of the box. #22 stepped up to take the PK and Rudy Fotsch (junior) made a spectacular save to his right, diving full extension and getting both hands on the ball. That energized the team, and in the 33rd minute, Sam Vigil (sophomore) played a ball into the box to Tanner Bennett (freshman) who touched it off a defender, reclaimed the ball, and slotted it far post past the keeper for a 1-1 game. This team is playing extremely well since the Kickapoo match, moving the ball well and talking to each other on the pitch. The game was called at half time due to the incoming weather and the hope that the varsity game could be played.
The varsity game started well, with Parkview moving the ball and getting chances. In the 20th minute Tim Griffin (junior) sent a bouncing ball into the box. The unsuspecting keeper didn’t see an onrushing Matt Beckett (senior). The ball touched the keeper’s hands and Matt headed it into the goal - he was able to do it without much contact, the keeper didn’t fall or complain, and the goal put the Vikings up 1-0. In the 34th minute nature decided we weren’t going to get this one in. Lightning and rain came down in buckets the size of Mack trucks, and fans and players alike ran for cover. My shoes are still wet this morning. The game will be rescheduled and will be a start where it finished, with 6 minutes left in the first half the score 1-0 Parkview.
