In an excellent match where the defense and Jonathan Malter put up another shutout, the Vikings were able to push their current win streak to three in front of a full crowd of students, parents, college coaches, and the News-Leader. In this key 2-0 win over Rolla, both teams got chances early, but Malter was able to make a couple aggressive saves early and the Vikings were unable to finish an early opportunity of their own as well. In the 10th minute, Jared Moore hit a beautifully struck ball from the top of the box that the keeper was only able to dive and knock in front of him, but although Tim Griffin flew in for the rebound the Rolla keeper made it there just at the last second. The first goal of the match came in the 27th minute as Jared Moore made a pass directly to Tim Griffin’s feet that Griffin was able to turn on a hit a left footed strike, giving Parkview the 1-0 lead. In the second half Malter made two more key saves, including jumping high to punch a corner kick over the cross-bar. Matt Medley had a great attempt when he hit a rocket on a set piece in the 60th minute that gave the keeper fits, but it didn’t sneak in. In the 76th minute, off a throw in some nice ball movement from Leland Ekstam and Jared Moore, a pass found Tim Griffin in the box on the goal line. He looked up and found Morgan Holt racing forward at the back post for the second goal of the afternoon and a 2-0 Parkview win.
The Viking defense was composed and solid against the Bulldogs. Most of the Rolla shots came off of set pieces or long strikes, and when Bulldog players did get into the box they were always stopped from getting clean right footed shots off. Vance Marlow was stellar again at the stopper position, as were outside backs Trey Kalbough and Kyle Kutz, who played a physical and intelligent brand of soccer. Sam Vigil also logged varsity minutes and the defense kept up their same attitude and efficiency when Marlow came out, winning fifty-fifty balls and constantly keeping his mark close. Dane Knapp, playing his second game of the year at sweeper, was clean and composed again in the back to lead the defense. The Vikings have to be happy both with the win over the Bulldogs and the way their entire team has defended over the last two games.

The Junior Varsity match started out with some chances from both sides, but an early 2-0 lead for the Bulldogs. The Vikings were able to battle back, creating multiple chances and evetually getting a goal of their own when Jordan Houseman crossed a ball in to a streaking Brian Otradovec who pulled the ball from behind him and flicked it into the back of the net. The 2-1 score held for a fair amount of the game as both teams found chances that they could not finish. In the first half Jordan Houseman ran on to a ball and tried to sneak it by the keeper with a defender on his hip, but was unable to get the result he was looking for. In the second half with the score still at 2-1, Alex Blanco hit a well struck ball from about twenty-five yards out that the keeper was able to get his hands on and keep in front of him on a nice save. Late in the match the Bulldogs were able to get their third goal of the match, leaving the final score at 3-1 Rolla.

Photos of the match and a story are provided by Ole at www.sgfsoccer.com.
You can see all the SGF pictures from the Parkview v. Rolla game here (45).
The News-Leader’s article on the Vikings is here.
The News-Leader’s other photo’s of the match can be found here (15).

The Parkview Vikings faced the Ozark Tigers on Wednesday night, taking 3-0 win on there home field. This was the Viking’s first District 11 win. Matt Medley was fouled in the penalty area and took the penalty kick shot himself. Medley scored the kick for his first goal of the season, giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead 24 minutes into the match. Just seven minutes later, Medley found Morgan Holt who torched a shot from just outside the 18 and put it away for the 2-0 lead. The Vikings got several more chances, but were unable to finish any more in the first half. In the second 40, Tim Griffin played a ball to Holt that created a 1 v. 1 with the keeper. Holt was able to beat the keeper for his second goal of the night, while at the same time receiving a hard cleat to the ankle that earned the keeper a yellow. Jon Malter earned his first shutout of the season, although he has had a great first three games. Malter has been nifty with his feet as well as quick with his hands thus far. The Vikings also started Dane Knapp at sweeper versus Ozark for the first time this season. Knapp was last year’s starter, and played very composed against the Tigers.

Ozark website article about the game.

SGFSoccer.com article on the day’s games.

Those who showed up a minute late to the Junior Varsity match missed out, as Tanner Bennett found Jordan Houseman for a goal and the lead only 45 seconds into the match. In the 18th minute Houseman found Shane Landon on a cross for a one-touch finish and the 2-0 lead. The third goal came as Cameron Wolf passed across to Jim Smart, who was able to put the finish away. The Tigers Junior Varsity made valiant effort in the second half, scoring two late goals and pressuring for a third, but the Vikings were able to hold on for the 3-2 win.

Parkview plays next on Tuesday the 16th. The game will be played on the home grass field; Varsity kicks off at 4:00 p.m., with JV to follow at approximately 5:30 p.m.

The Parkview Vikings Varsity squad faced off against the Hillcrest Hornets on Tuesday night, ending in a 5-1 victory for the Vikings. Hillcrest took an early lead when Bryce Collier was able to finish a goal on the counter attack only 10 minutes into the match. Only five minutes later the Vikings were able to answer with a goal of their own to tie the score at 1-1. Matt Medley earned the assist with a beautiful ball over the top that Tim Griffin was able to settle and slot into the back of the net.

The second Viking goal, and eventual game winner, came when Tim Griffin led Jared Moore in space. Moore was able to keep the ball with speed, cut off his defender, and finish the ball high and wide into the back of the net. The next two goals for Parkview came on crosses, with Morgan Holt finding Tim Griffin off a corner, and Leland Ekstam connecting with Vance Marlow (both on corner kicks). In the 78th minute Jared Moore sent a through ball right to the feet of Tim Griffin in the open field and Tim finished it far post for the first hat trick of the year and a 5-1 final score.

The Junior Varsity match found the Vikings with a shot on goal that should have been put away less than 15 seconds into the match, and although this first chance wasn’t finished, the Vikings were able to score 9 other opportunities on their way to a 9-0 win. The first goal of the match was scored by Tanner Bennett, which was not only his first of the season, but the team’s first as well. Other goals in the match were scored by Daniel Vasant, Cameron Wolf, Brian Otradovec, Jim Smart, and others. Kristian Dalmas had a notable 2 assists as well. Evin Barber earned the shutout, his first of the season.

Both the Varsity and JV records are now at 1-1. On Wednesday the Vikings will face Ozark on JFK, with the JV set to start at 5:30 p.m., and the Varsity to follow around 7:00 p.m.

Opening up the season with a bang, the Parkview Vikings faced new District opponent Glendale High School, losing 0-1. With the rain coming down, but the worst of it staying away, both teams had strong opportunities in the first half. The Viking defense played tough with Rudy Fotsch at sweeper, and the score was 0-0 at the 40 minute break. In the second half the Glendale attack came hard, but keeper Jon Malter made a handful of goal stopping saves, including a reaction dive to his left side as he pushed a ball just wide of the net in. Malter was a key to the Viking defense with solid play, quality adjustments on the wet field, and more than once leaving the net aggressively to make a save. After a foul call just outside the 18, Glendale’s Devon Newport (committed to Saint Louis University) slotted the set piece just over the wall and into the upper corner of the goal. Although the Vikings had opportunities even late in the second half, forwards Tim Griffin and Jared Moore were unable to get any extremely dangerous chances on goal. The Viking attack saw multiple crosses by Leland Ekstam that provided for some chances as well, but although Viking heads found the ball, they were ultimately unable to finish.

In the Junior Varsity match between Parkview and Glendale, the Falcon’s prevailed 3-0. The shorthanded Vikings felt their way through the early parts of the match, defending well and creating a few solid opportunities in the first half. The halftime score was 1-0 Glendale. The Vikings allowed a second goal early in half number two, but both Jordan Houseman and Tanner Bennett earned semi- breakaway chances as well. Houseman dribbled into the box with a defender on his back and was unable to get a clean hit on the ball on in what was probably the Vikings best chance to score. The Junior Varsity overall played a solid game, as they played solid defense and strong in the midfield throughout.

Pictured is senior forward Tim Griffin battling for the ball. Photo taken and provided courtesy of Steve “Ole” Olson, of www.sgfsoccer.com. Check out SGFSoccer for the rest of the evening’s soccer results.

The Vikings play their next match on Thursday, September 4th. The game will be played on the Parkview grass field, with the JV kicking off at 3:45, and the Varsity match to follow.