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.

The varsity team experienced two frustrating losses last week, losing on the road, 2-3, at Rolla April 5 and then at home two days later to Lebanon, 0-2. In both games, the team played well in long stretches but failed to capitalize on opportunities and had moments of indecision defensively that led to goals for their opponents.

Molly Robb and Holly Messick each got a goal for varsity at Rolla. The girls created even more opportunities in the Lebanon game, but could not convert.

Finally on Friday, the offense woke up in the team’s 5-1 victory against Greenwood. Amanda Leckrone, Emily Courtney, Holly Messick, Mackenzi Payton, and Becca Castillo each got a goal.

Junior varsity was sleepy in Rolla, losing 0-3 and not looking like their normally sharp selves. They rebounded with a strong 3-1 victory over Lebanon. Emily Williamson, Brooklynn Engel, and Hannah Roberts each scored in the win.

The Parkview girls lost, 0-6, on the road at Nixa last Tuesday. The girls gave up three goals each half.

With largely the same roster that reached the state quarterfinals last year,  Nixa had beaten every team it had played at that point in its season by at least six goals.

The Parkview JV team played a more competitive match, losing to Nixa, 0-1, in a very even game.

After Wednesday’s practice that focused on improving our marking in and around the box, the girls took on Rogersville Thursday. Varsity won the game, 1-0, on a long-range shot from Kelsey Loderhose (assisted by Olivia Solari). The improved focus on defending around our penalty area paid off as, while Rogersville did keep the ball in the Parkview half of the field for extended stretches each half, they created very few actual scoring opportunities.

The Parkview JV team recorded its first win of the season, 1-0, when freshman Erica Batson found the net against Rogersville.