With dramatic clouds gathering and swirling overhead, the varsity Vikings then faced off against Poplar Bluff. While dominating play, the Vikings were able to put only one of many scoring opportunities past the Poplar Bluff keeper. On the other end of the field, a couple of fast and dangerous Poplar Bluff forwards repeatedly looked to slip past the PHS defense and tie the game. Only quick work from the Viking defenders and an amazing save from PHS goalie Tyler Kutz kept the Vikings on top, 1-0, throughout the first half.

Even though game times for Saturday were adjusted to allow for rain-outs from the night before, heavy rains throughout the night washed out Saturday’s competition.

As the sun set over the Kickapoo pitch Tuesday night, the soccer action became quite intense. The Parkview junior varsity played a close game with Kickapoo’s JV, before yielding the field to the PHS varsity. The first half began and PHS went on the attack immediately. The Vikings dominated play for most of the 1st 40 minutes and created several scoring opportunities, a couple that were quite close to ending up in the net. After a very well played half, the teams left the field with the score tied 0-0.

A near capacity crowd turned out for the evening of soccer and the Parkview area was quite crowded, with a large contingent of students, mostly decked out in green and gold. The cheering section stayed quite loud in the 2nd half, even after Kickapoo scored a goal about 3 minutes in. The Vikings kept battling but had less success after that goal. The Chiefs scored their 2nd goal about 10 minutes into the half. Neither team was able to put the ball in the net after that point in the game, as it ended in a 2-0 Kickapoo victory. The PHS JV also fell by a 2-0 score.

The spirited evening drew to a close with the PHS student cheering section singing the Viking school song.

[posted by guest Web contributor Steve Brooks]

For results of the Viking Showdown 2006 tournament, click on the page at left.

The Parkview varsity team, left, prepares to face off against the Parkview junior varsity team, right, in the Viking Showdown 2006 tournament.

Both Parkview Viking squads enjoyed comfortable wins over the Central Bulldogs Sept. 13. Leading off the double header at the Bulldog’s Cooper 1 home field, the junior varsity Vikings took control of the game early and scored four times in each half. The team was also able to hold the Bulldogs scoreless, giving keeper KC Stengall an 8-0 shutout victory.

The varsity Vikings realized even more success, scoring 10 goals and ending their game before the end of regulation time. The struggling Bulldog squad had few opportunities to challenge varsity keeper Tyler Kutz and he, too, went home with a shutout to his credit.

The Vikings next play Sept. 15-16 when the team hosts the annual Viking Showdown. Six visiting teams will be joining the varsity and junior varsity Vikings in Friday and Saturday tournament competition.

GREEN AND GOLD VIKING FANS!

On the first REAL soccer day of the fall season (gray, cool and blustery) the Varsity Vikings edged out the visiting Rolla Bulldogs, 2-1. In a game reminiscent of the team’s match against Rock Bridge, the Vikings controlled much of the play but had a hard time breaking down their opponent’s defense. Despite a flurry of shots on goal and crossing shots from both corners, the team was unable to find the back of the net in the first half. In similar fashion, the Bulldogs were unable to finish on a couple of scoring opportunities and the teams left the field tied at 0-0.

The Viking’s offensive assault on Rolla continued in the second half until a shot on the ground from Jason Florez slipped under the Rolla keeper. The Viking lead was short-lived, however, as minutes later, a Rolla forward beat keeper Tyler Kutz with a low ball to the far left post.

Balanced play from both teams then had fans beginning to wonder if the game was heading for overtime and more importantly, if they could stay warm enough without retrieving the soccer blanket from the car. Fortunately, with less than five minutes in the game, the Vikings kept the ball bouncing around in the Rolla box until senior Seth Fuson beat the keeper from the left side of the goal. The referee signaled the end of the game minutes later with the Vikings on top, 2-1.

A hard-fought battle between the junior varsity squads had a less satisfying ending for the Vikings. With the teams tied 2-2 in the second half, the Vikings suffered an “own goal” to put the Bulldogs on top. Several last-minute scoring opportunities for the Vikings had Parkview fans hoping for a tie, but it was not to be.

Rock Bridge High School out of Columbia, Mo., handed both Viking squads their first loss of the season on Sept. 9. Kicking off at 9 a.m., the JV team battled hard against a very physical Rock Bridge squad. The Vikings, however, could not find a way to slow down their opponent or put the ball past the Rock Bridge defense. In the end, the Rock Bridge offense put its team on top, 4-0.

In similar fashion, while even dominating the first 20 minutes of play, the Viking varsity could not break down a rock-solid Rock Bridge defense to get on the scoreboard first. In a frustrating turn of events, the first time Rock Bridge made a real attack on the Viking goal, the ball found the back of the net.

Rock Bridge scored two more times over the next 50 minutes of play while repeatedly shutting down Viking scoring attempts. Finally, however, with 16 minutes left in the game, a corner kick from Tom Marlow was sent past the Rock Bridge keeper on a header by Matt Beckett.

With renewed energy, the Vikings turned up the heat, again creating numerous offensive opportunities that just could not get past the opponent’s swarming defense. At the end of 80 minutes, it was Rock Bridge 3, the Vikings 1.

The Parkview Vikings took on an improved Hillcrest Hornets team Sept. 5 but were still able to put 10 goals on the scoreboard to end the game early.