HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER ROUNDUP

by John Heglie Special to the Leader sports@leaderadvertiser.com
| October 22, 2014 11:23 AM

GIRLS

Locos derail Pirates

Laurel 1, Polson 0

At Laurel this past Saturday, the visiting Lady Pirates and the host Lady Locomotives battled one another on the soccer pitch in a version akin to color crayon warfare to determine which school colors would advance to the next round.

Loyalists to purple & gold persuasion would ultimately prevail, but the outcome would be unfortunate news for the Northern A team because it meant that Laurel would advance after ending Polson’s season. Ironically, both school share similarity in color schemes with a prevalent purple & gold theme.

Polson had some early scoring opportunities in the first half to shape the tempo of the game. Senior midfielder Linnea Madsen launched a shot that deflected off the Laurel keeper, the recoil bouncing just beyond her reach.

Another Lady Pirate was crashing the box nearby in proximity to the deflection and attempted to relaunch the rebound.

But less than optimum positioning resulted in an awkward angle from which to attempt a putback and the ball squibbed wide right. On another occasion, senior midfielder Sarah Howell unloaded a zinger that ricocheted off the right sidebar, the ping from its recoil reverberating loud enough so as to be heard by the ears of many of those seated in attendance.

Had the Lady Pirates been able to make a deposit on such golden opportunities, the result may have introduced alterations to the script that Laurel was playing by and changed the complexion of the game.

But it would be another senior midfielder who would ultimately tingle the twine for the only score of the game. Lady Loco Allie McGrath took a pass from MacKenzie LaCasse and her feat of the foot acquired its target in the upper corner of the net to squeeze Laurel ahead. McGrath is just the kind of seasoned veteran with the kind of credentials that would tend to spell trouble for any opposing team when faced with a clutch situation.

Aside from being a twice decorated all-conference 1st-team soccer player with 31 career goals and 23 career assists to her credit thus far, she was also an all-tournament, all-state, all-conference 1st-team selectee in girls basketball last season as well as contributing member of the State A champion Laurel squad the season prior.

That McGrath would also be problematic on account of her speed can also be extrapolated from by her placing at meets in multiple events during the Spring track season.

In the second half, Laurel seemed to take the approach that a good offense is the best defense of their one goal lead and controlled the lions share of the early portion of second half ball possession.

But the Lady Pirates were able to make adjustments and created a few opportunities of their own in an attempt to net the equalizer. Sophomore striker Tiara Duford got a few cracks at the net. Senior midfielder Keely Clairmont got the best of the final looks in the final two minutes that could have sent the game into overtime, but the Laurel keeper was able to intercept the ball to maintain the lead.

Laurel coach Aloma Jess acknowledged that both teams were pretty evenly matched. “Polson gave us a run for our money offensively and defensively and kept us on our toes the entire game.”

The Lady Pirates also received a gutsy performance on defense from their keeper Jenna Evertz, who made 16 saves of the 21 shots fired by the Locomotives over the course of the game. “We hammered her with shots from different angles and she was everywhere countering what we tried to throw at her,” Jess said.

Polson coach Michael Hewston said Laurel played really well and, “both teams had rock-solid play. It was good for the Lady Pirates to be able to play at that level.“

Several made the observation that the artificial playing surface may have played a factor in some of the Polson shot opportunities. Passes which would have been right on the mark on a manicured grass field would have encountered less resistance on the artificial turf and as a consequence would scoot past their intended target.

The feel of the footing would have also been different.

One is inclined to speculate as to whether some of the trajectories of Polson shots on goal might have been tweaked just enough with a little greater familiarity with the surface to have made a difference.

Polson brings to a close its Fall campaign with a 7-5-1 overall record, 4-3-1 conference.

Laurel (10-2-2) advances to visit Whitefish (6-5-2) on Saturday.

Polson 0 0 - 0

Laurel 1 0 - 1

L - Allie McGrath (MacKenzie LaCasse) 34’

Shots on goal: Polson 7, Laurel 12.

Saves: Polson 5 (Jenna Evertz),

Laurel 4 (Paige O’Toole)

Corner Kicks - Polson 0, Laurel 7

Fouls - Polson 2, Laurel 1

LL var - sog P11L21, sv P16L11

LP indiv sog - Sarah Howell 1, Linnea Madsen 1, Keely Clairmont 2, Tiara Duford 3

(Sa18Oct14gsc)

MVCA 9, Chrysalis 0

At Kalispell this past Saturday, the Mission Valley Christian Academy Lady Sting prevailed over Chrysalis School of Eureka by the score of 9-0.

The game brought to a close the MVCA girls soccer season which finished with a 3-3 record and wrapped up the careers of seniors Taelor Conrad and Rachel Maddy.

ChrysS 0 0 - 0

MVCA 6 3 - 9

MVg1 - Taelor Conrad (a Rachel Maddy)

MVg2 - R.Maddy (a T.Conrad)

MVg3 - T.Conrad (a Ellie Maddy)

MVg4 - E.Maddy (a. Haylee Bruton)

MVg5 - Nayeli Windauer (a J.Maddy)

MVg6 - J.Maddy (a Bethie Tromp)

MVg7 - B.Tromp (a J.Maddy)

MVg8 - N.Windauer (a J.Maddy)

MVg9 - Claire Hanke (a J.Maddy)

stat data unavailable for shots on goal & saves

(Sa18Oct14gsc)

SCS 7, MVCA 2

At Kalispell, the host Lady Cougars cobbled together a first half lead and then countered the second half efforts of the visiting Lady Sting to capture the contest. Taelor Conrad and Rachel Maddy scored for Mission Valley in the second half with Conrad assisting on the second tally.

MVCA 0 2 - 2

SCS 4 3 - 7

SCS - Sheyann Collom 1’, Kate Martin 17’, Serena Koch 24’, Ashely Tang (Koch) 33’

MVCA - Taelor Conrad 47’

MVCA - Rachel Maddy (Conrad) 66’

SCS - Collom (Koch) 53’, Collom 58’

Shots on goal - MVCA 10, SCS 35.

Saves - MVCA 20 (R.Maddy 11, Claire Hanke 9), SCS 4 (Janelle Falk 3, Kate Martin 1).

Corner Kicks - MVCA 2, SCS 7.

(Fr17Oct14gsc)

BOYS

Sting secures playoff berth

The Mission Valley Christian Academy Sting (5-0-2) secured the 2nd-seed in the MCAA Western Conference, the first season that the MVCA boys have posted an undefeated record.

They now embark upon the MCAA State tournament held in Bozeman beginning this Thursday.

They will play the 3rd-seed out of the MCAA Eastern Conference in the first round. The higher seeded team in the second round would be a team they tied earlier in the season, but their prospects of battling their way into the championship bout loom larger than at any other time in their soccer history.

CoEd SOCCER

The Mission Valley Christian Academy coed soccer team wrapped up their season last weekend with a pair of close wins in the Northwest Montana Specialty Schools Tournament. MVCA coed finishes their season with a 6-2 record.

NWMSS Tourney

Stebbins Field, Kalispell

Saturday, October 18, 2014

MVCA 3, Summit 2

At Stebbins Field in Kalispell this past Saturday, the Mission Valley Christian Academy coed soccer team squeezed by Summit Preparatory School by the score of 3-2.

SPS 1 1 - 2

MVCA 2 1 - 3

MVg1 - Jake Windauer (a Lucca Maddy)

MVg2 - J.Windauer (a Nick Windauer)

MVg3 - Brenden Conrad (a J.Windauer)

(Sa18Oct14sc)

MVCA 3, MAM 2

At Stebbins Field in Kalispell this past Saturday, the Mission Valley Christian Academy coed soccer team benefited from an own goal by Montana Academy of Marion to prevail in the contest by the score of 3-2.

MAM 1 1 - 2

MVCA 2 1 - 3

MVg1 - Jake Windauer (a Lucca Maddy)

MVg2 - own goal

MVg3 - Brenden Conrad (pk)

(Sa18Oct14sc)

MVCA 3, Summit 2

At Stebbins Field in Kalispell this past Saturday, the Mission Valley Christian Academy coed soccer team squeezed by Summit Preparatory School by the score of 3-2.

SPS 1 1 - 2

MVCA 2 1 - 3

MVg1 - Jake Windauer (a Lucca Maddy)

MVg2 - J.Windauer (a Nick Windauer)

MVg3 - Brenden Conrad (a J.Windauer)

(Sa18Oct14sc)

MVCA 3, MAM 2

MAM 1 1 - 2

MVCA 2 1 - 3

MVg1 - Jake Windauer (a Lucca Maddy)

MVg2 - own goal

MVg3 - Brenden Conrad (pk)

(Sa18Oct14sc)