Vikings Lose To Waynesville, 0-1, 0-2

The Parkview Vikings went into Waynesville last night looking to start the week off on the right foot, but knowing that a brand new lineup and a brand new scheme might take more than half a game to get used to. The Vikings fell to the Tigers 0-1 on Tuesday night, giving up a goal with 12 minutes left in the match after a fairly back and forth game.

Michael Duff’s sweeper role seems to be permanent in the back for Parkview, with Dane Knapp’s move to the center mid. Jared Moore played up top in Waynesville, but the offense just wasn’t clicking last night. Jon Malter and the defense in front of him looked solid for the third straight game, giving up only one or two real scoring opportunities, but the Tigers were able to capitalize on theirs, while the Vikings were not. The new scheme may taking a bit of getting used to, with four players playing in new positions, and two playing after missing a few games due to injuries, but the Vikings have to feel good about the direction that they’re moving in.

The Junior Varsity squad made a big change in the back as well last night, after giving up yet another goal due to miscommunication and poor clearances, Taylor Shive was moved into the sweeper position for Parkview’s JV squad. Shive, a sophomore who had been playing outside mid and a touch of marking back, held down the role quite well. The JV offense had two great scoring opportunities in the first half, but was unable to finish with just the keeper to beat. In the second half the opportunities were fewer and farther between, and the JV squad lost 0-2.

The Vikings face Joplin on the PHS grass field on Thursday.

Vikings Beat Cape Central, Lose to Jackson

3933233544_b79cc08f6cParkview picked up a huge win over Cape Central on Saturday, although the Vikings were playing without starting sweeper Dane Knapp or starting center mid Alex Blanco. The Vikings used Michael Duff at sweeper and, and the defense played cleanly to keep the shutout intact (along with a few stellar Jon Malter saves). The first goal came early in the second half when Brian Otradovec flicked a ball over the last defender and Jared Moore ran into the space and knocked it by the on-rushing keeper. The second goal came when Tanner Bennett crashed the net and picked up the trash, rewarded by some hard work from Jordan Houseman. (photo by www.sgfsoccer.com)

The Vikings will see Waynesville, Jopin, and Nixa this week, which should be three great games.

PHS 1, Cape Central 2 (JV)
The Junior Varsity squad lost to Cape Central 1-2. The Parkview boys scored first off of a corner kick by TJ Joy, which found Evan Friese standing on the far post. Friese one touched the ball into the back of the net on a great ‘right-place, right-time’ goal, his first of the season. The Vikings could not hold on, however, and will look to shake up the lineup a bit to bring some focus and consistency onto the field.

PHS 1, Jackson 2
The Vikings Friday game against Jackson was a battle, but Parkview could not hold on to an early lead and lost 1-2. The Vikings took the 1-0 advantage on a Tanner Bennett goal about 5 minutes into the match, and held on to that lead for a good bit of the first half. Late in the first half Jackson scored to tie the match at 1-1, and in the second half they got their second one to go 2-1. Parkview was playing without senior sweeper and captain Dane Knapp.

Alumni Roundup

209077009_8f90136fcbTom Marlow (PHS 2005) is currently playing in his Junior year with the Illinois Wesleyan University Titans (D3 – NSCAA). IWU is 3-3-2 and Marlow has been a consistent started the last two years. Tom has 1 goal so far this year as a center mid.

Tim Griffin (PHS 2008) is playing along-side Marlow at IWU. Tim has started every game this season so far, and scored 4 goals and 1 assist in the first 8 games.

Matt Medley (PHS 2008) is at Loras College. Medley is getting consistent playing time as a Freshman so far, playing in 5 of the first 8 games for Loras, on their way to a 6-1-1 record.

Will Griffin d(PHS 2007) is working his way back into the mix at William Jewel Cardinals. Will was forced to accept a medical-redshirt after a preseason injury last year, and is now rehabbed and getting his legs back under him as the season progresses. WJU is is currently 6-1.

Dana Rose (PHS 2007) is playing for the Southwest Baptist University Bearcats, who recently had a huge win over Missouri Southern, are are currently 4-1-1.

Karl Fredrickson (PHS 2007) had a frustrating injury at the start of this year for the Baptist Bible College Patriots . Fredrickson is out for this season, after accepting a medical-redshirt so he does not lose a year of eligibility.

Pictured above (left to right) are 2005-2006 seniors Tyler Kutz, Tim Brooks, Joey Eckstam, Zack Henderson, Jason Florez, and Tom Marlow (Photo by Steve Olson of www.sgfsoccer.com, and was used in a 2005 article on SGF.com).

Check out the PHS Alumni page for more information on these athletes and other PHS Alumni who formerly played college ball.

Vikings Lose To Kickapoo 1-2

3946752292_d4cbb07b53The Parkview Varsity squad lost 1-2 to the Kickapoo Chiefs on Tuesday night. The Vikings got an early goal from Brian Otradovec on a rebound from the KHS keeper, but the Chiefs were able to get an equalizer before halftime. Senior captain keeper Jon Malter was injured in the first half and had to sit out the last 10 minutes of the half, but Freshmen keeper TJ Joy came in and held down the fort in his absense without giving up a goal. Also in the first half Senior captain center-back Dane Knapp got hit hard in a collision and missed the last 50 minutes of the game. This put the Vikings in a tricky situation with one key player playing injured and another on the bench.

In the second half the Chiefs scored with 15 minutes left to take the 2-1 advantage. This was another tough loss for Parkview, who has played well but lost the majority of their games this season (now 2-7).

Steve Olson was at the game, took a bunch of pictures, and has a nice article about the match on his website www.sgfsoccer.com:

Otradovec benefited from Jordan Houseman’s hard work on the right side, winning a foot race for the ball and sending it back into the box from the endline. It was that type of work, in combination with Jared Moore in the center, that made it hard for the Chief’s to establish any rhythm themselves…

The Newsleader also wrote an article on the game:

As Parkview High School senior goalkeeper Jon Malter made one stellar save after another, Kickapoo senior Skyler Russell had one simple answer in mind: just keep shooting…

The Junior Varsity match was tied with about 9 minutes left before Kickapoo was able to put an opportunity away. Although Pedro Pitonez got a nice look on goal, the keeper saved it and the Chiefs countered to get a second late one and win 2-0 over the Viking JV.

Viking Showdown (Farmington Wins)

Farmington picked up 3 wins on their way to winning the Viking Showdown this year. Farmington is now 9-0 on the season. Steve Olson wrote a great article on www.sgfsoccer.com about the tournament. Steve has compiled the scores, with small blurbs about the games, and a video interview with the winners.

Friday- Sept. 18, 2009
Parkview 10
Lebanon 0

Carthage 2
Kearney 0 (with 15 min. left; not official final score)

Neosho 4
West Plains 0

Fulton 1
Farmington 4

Saturday Sept. 19, 2009
Parkview 2
Neosho 3 (OT)

Farmington 1
Carthage 0 (OT)

Lebanon 2
West Plains 0

Fulton 2
Kearney 1

Parkview 0
Carthage 2

Farmington 7
Neosho 0

Offense Picks Up, Defense Falters

The Vikings went to Rolla on Tuesday and lost 1-4. So far this season the Parkview defense has been stellar and it has been the offense that has struggled, but tonight the attack proved that they are starting to come around, controlling possession in much of the first half, and playing a 50-50 game in the second half. The defense, on the other hand, struggled. Rolla had their fair amount of opportunities and finished well, but the Vikings did not clear the ball well, did not mark up well, and just flat out did not play like themselves last night.

It was great to see the offense move the ball like they did, earning a goal off a cross that Brian Otradovec challenged the keeper for. Otradovec’s effort kept the ball alive inside the box, and Alex Blanco was able to put a shot on frame with the keeper still out of the picture. Tanner Bennett, Otradovec, Jordan Houseman, and Jared Moore all moved the ball especially well last night, before Bennett was hit on a header attempt, sending him to the bench for the remainder of the match. After that the tempo was picked up by the others, as well as Blanco and Blake White, with Michael Duff making some great offensive runs as well.

The Junior Varsity squad also lost last night, playing their worst match to date, and losing 0-5. Nothing was clicking for the JV Vikings, playing without their leading scorer. There may be a handful of excuses, but when it comes right down to it, they did not play well. The lone bright spot for the JV squad last night was keeper Evin Barber, who has been consistently strong in the net, much improved from last year, and is beginning to look ready for Varsity minutes in the 2010 season.