Without starting keeper Jon Malter, the Vikings went up against the Joplin Eagles and lost 3-2. Following a close match on Tuesday, and with a District match on Friday, the Vikings were forced to lean on their depth Thursday night, with backup Keeper Rudy Fotsch playing well throughout his first career Varsity match in goal. Tim Griffin scored a goal in each half, giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead at halftime, and after falling behind 2-1 midway through the second half, Griffin scored the game tying goal as well. Sophomores Jordan Houseman and Blake White played big minutes on Thursday. Houseman has been logging Varsity minutes on a game-to-game basis out the outside mid position.
The Junior Varsity squad played well defensively in Joplin Thursday night, but were unable to muster much offense throughout the overall match. After giving up a goal about midway through the second half to go down 1-0, Brian Otradovec was able to get his head on a cross to keep it alive before Daniel Vansant ran in to head the ball into the back of the net, tying the game at 1-1. The Vikings were able to get a few more chances after the game was tied, but the match ended tied thanks to resilient play late in the match.
Parkview plays next on Friday against Nixa, a District match.
what happened to Malter? and now Dane? What is the injury report?
Malter got injured in the Waynesville loss. The injury is to his arm, and at this point he is out indefinitely. For those who don’t know: Rudy Fotsch was a keeper much of his soccer career until the last two years, and that is who has taken Jon’s place in goal.
Dane’s injury is less serious, but it did keep him out of the last half our of the Joplin game, as well as the entire Nixa game. We expect to have Dane back by Tuesday’s game against West Plains, unless we decide to rest him for the Kickapoo tournament.