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.

Coming off a successful weekend, the boys travel to Waynesville today. Waynesville is 5-4 on the season, just one vote behind the Vikings in the Class 3 Southwest Regional Poll that came out on Monday. The JV plays at 4:30pm followed by the varsity.

Wednesday we host the Joplin Eagles, picked fourth in the Class 3 Southwest Regional Poll this week with a 9-2 record. The game will be at JFK with the JV at 5:00pm and the varsity to follow. This is an intense rivalry, and we hope to get the win on our own pitch after losing to them last year in Joplin at the end of the season.

On Friday the Nixa Eagles come calling with the Varsity playing first at 4:00pm followed by the JV. It’s homecoming night but we still expect a crowd of savage Vikings supporters!

Parkview came out and played a very good Cape Central team (who lost to Glendale 1-0 on Friday) on Saturday morning. Cape started the scoring on an awarded penalty kick, 1-0. Parkview stormed back early in the second half to tie the game on an unassisted goal by Jared Moore (sophomore). He took a free throw, dribbled through three defenders and slotted the ball near post. Later in the second half Matt Medley (junior) settled a ball and found Jared Moore (sophomore) at the top of the box and Jared took one touch and finished for his second of the game. Parkview held on for the 2-1 victory.

In the late game Parkview played Poplar Bluff and mercy-ruled them 10-0.

Due to some late arrivals the JV team was unable to go with their usual starting lineup against Cape Central, and a misclear by the PHS defense resulted in a very early goal by Cape. That one goal would prove to be the difference-maker as the PHS JV would muster multiple breakaways with aggressive 1 on 1 play by the forwards and solid defense the rest of the game, however they could not finish any of their opportunities, resulting in a frustrating 1-0 loss.

In the second JV game, against Poplar Bluff, the first half looked much like the Cape game, with the PHS JV dominating play 60-40 but unable to finish. Luckily for the Vikings solid defensive play kept them in it for a 0-0 half time score. In the second half the boys made the proper adjustments implemented by JV coach Trevor Dancer, shooting from much farther out, early and often. This change of tactic netted the Vikings their second goal of the season, and the first by Blake White on a beautiful shot from 25 yards out on the left wing, assisted by Sam Vigil. This goal was followed by a nice 50-50 win and early hit into the lower corner of the net just minutes later by Blaze Keith, the outside mid on the other side of the field.

Both the Varsity and JV will be looking to build on this weekend’s successes and continue improving their finishing in order to pick up more wins this week, with games coming up against Waynesville (away on Tuesday), Joplin (home on wednesday), and Nixa (home on friday).

Thanks to Joseph Florez for the second half of this article!

Get out to the fields tomorrow and support your Vikings! Cape Central and Poplar Bluff are coming to town for a twin bill on JFK. The Cape Central game is a 9am, JV first followed by Varsity. The Poplar Bluff game starts at 2:00pm, again JV first then Varsity. Good luck boys!