The Parkview girls’ soccer team will play in its first district championship in 11 years Thursday after winning its semifinal match versus Central High School, 6-2.

The semi-final proved to be a real challenge. Our senior-laden squad had to cope with a feisty Central team after just having been graduated from high school the night before. More than a couple of the girls never really shook off their sluggish start to the game, which was understandable but enervating nevertheless for the Parkview head coach.

The girls persevered, however, and Kelsey Loderhose delivered a career performance, scoring five goals on the night in clinical fashion. Molly Robb added the sixth goal in the last couple minutes of the game, as well as two assists. Emma Chilton also recorded an assist in the game.

Former head coach and Parkview legend Ron Tate shared today that the girls’ team made the district final in 1998 and 1999, losing both games to Kickapoo.

Parkview will face Joplin for the Class 3 District 12 championship 6:30 PM Thursday at Harrison Stadium.

Seniors Kelsey Loderhose and Molly Robb battle for the ball in penalty area versus Neosho May 9.

Parkview received the first seed in the district 12 girls’ soccer tournament, to be held May 14-19 at Central High School’s Harrison Stadium.

The Lady Vikings earned a bye in the first round.  The winner of the first-round game between Carthage and Central (12 PM Saturday) will be Parkview’s opponent in the semi-final match scheduled for 4 PM Tuesday.

Should the girls win the semifinal, they would reach a district final match for the first time in the program’s history. The final is scheduled for 6:30 PM Thursday.

District 12 Girls’ Soccer Tournament Bracket

Sorry for not updating the site last week. Yearbook delivery took over my primary focus during the school day the last couple of weeks. Here’s how we’ve done the last two weeks:

April 29 – varsity lost, 0-4, at Ozark. The result was disappointing but hardly indictative of where our team is currently at. Keep in mind that less than 24 hours earlier our girls knocked off Kickapoo in a double-overtime track meet of a game. The JV team lost, 0-2.

May 5 – varsity lost, 0-2, at home to Waynesville. Despite playing some its best ball possession of the season, the girls fell at home to a salty Waynesville team. JV lost, 0-1.

May 9 – varsity beat Neosho, 5-0. Becca Castillo opened the scoring, and Kelsey Loderhose scored the next four goals. Assists were earned by Emily Courtney, Castillo, Holly Messick, Molly Robb, and Emma Chilton. The JV game was cancelled due to Neosho’s lack of players that night.

May 10 – varsity beat West Plains, 6-0, playing excellent possession soccer along the way. Goals were scored by Becca Castillo (2), Emily Courtney, Holly Messick, Molly Robb, and Mckenzi Payton. Robb, Emma Chilton, and Kelsey Loderhose each notched an assist. JV won, 6-1, finally scoring the goals that they struggled to produce much of the season. [JV goals by Emma Chilton (2), Hannah Roberts, Emma Bagley, and Erica Batson (2).]

May 12 – In an Ozark Conference make-up game from last week, varsity beat Hillcrest, 10-0. The JV game was cancelled due Hillcrest’s recent rash of injuries. Varsity goals: Emma Chilton (3), Kelsey Loderhose (2), Becca Castillo (2), McKenzi Payton (2), and Alex Shuppert. Assists: Emily Courtney (2), Molly Robb, Holly Messick, Olivia Solari, Chilton, and Loderhose.

Each game over the last three weeks the girls have shown more and more consistency, character, and confidence, and that trend continued in last night’s double-overtime 1-0 victory against Kickapoo (on senior night, no less!).

The girls break it down prior to kick-off versus Kickapoo April 28. Photo by Joe George III.

Kickapoo had a slightly larger share of ball possession, which afforded them a few more quality scoring chances than Parkview, but both teams pressured the other’s keeper throughout the game.

On one of Kickapoo’s better chances in the first half, the ball slipped through Parkview’s backline, giving Kickapoo forward Danielle Smulczenski a wide-open look at goal. Parkview keeper Madi George quickly came off her line and threw herself onto the ball right as Smulczenski unloaded a fierce shot. George’s save–her final play of the evening–proved critical as the night wore on. 

Madi George lies in pain after making a big save on Kickapoo's Danielle Smulczenski. Sophomore Amy Greene, despite how it looks, did not kick Madi in the head. Photo by Joe George III.

Both girls crumpled over in pain, and George was unable to continue playing. As George left the stadium to get an X-ray, sophomore Emily Courtney moved from outside midfield into goal.

After more than 95 minutes of a scoreless battle, Kelsey Loderhose fired home the game-winning goal in the second sudden-death overtime period. After stealing the ball off the foot of the Kickapoo centerback and heading for goal, she got clipped in the ankle about 30 yards from goal. Loderhose took the direct kick, blasting a powerful shot just above the outstretched hands of Kickapoo goalkeeper McKenzie Danzer.

 Perhaps the best news of the evening came after the game, when news arrived that George’s X-rays were negative. She suffered deep bruising but no broken bones. She should be able to return to action before districts start.

While Kickapoo’s edge in possession shows where the Parkview girls still have room for improvement, the Lady Vikings have demonstrated a lot of growth from their inconsistent start to the season. The defense has grown into a unit that’s making key plays look routine, the midfield is keeping its shape better even against well-organized teams like Kickapoo, and the girls are getting forward in numbers when they go on the attack.

And they haven’t peaked. Their best performance seems still to come.

Over the last two weeks, the varsity girls have started to display the type of consistency that a team wants heading into districts. The JV, however, has been decimated with injuries.

Vanessa Perez eyes the ball during the Glendale game April 19.

Both varsity and JV got wins April 18 at home against Branson. Varsity won, 6-0, with two goals from Emma Chilton and one goal apiece from Kelsey Loderhose, Alex Shupert, Molly Robb, and Holly Messick, whose goal was the prettiest of the evening. Emily Courtney flew a cross in from the right flank to the far post, and Messick made a drifting run from the near post back toward the ball and headed the ball back against the grain and into the upper right corner of the goal.

In the JV game versus Branson, Yazmin Chan scored her first goal of the season. » Read more: Varsity finding its form; JV struggles with injuries

The Parkview Lady Vikings got two wins last week that reflect the team when it’s at its best.

The girls opened the week with a 2-1 win over Joplin. Kelsey Loderhose got both goals during the first half, the first on a PK and the second on a well-placed direct kick that found the far upper corner of the goal. Parkview’s defense minimized Joplin’s opportunities to just a couple of chances, and the offense created numerous easy chances in the second half but neglected to finish each of them.

On Friday, in weather conditions better suited for emperor penquins than human beings, Parkview recorded its first win against a St. Louis-area school in recent memory, defeating Parkway West 3-2. The wind blew east at a constant 40 mph, forcing both teams to play a half into the wind. Parkview won the coin toss and went with the wind in the first half, getting a two-goal lead by halftime. » Read more: Team makes progress last week: Wins over Joplin, Parkway West

Here is our bracket for the weekend Kickapoo tournament.

As always, this tournament provides the girls with a measuring stick to see how they compare to top teams from around the state. The tough competition gives the girls the opportunity to raise their game as they prepare for district competition in May.