While it's still early in the season, the scoreboard doesn't lie.
Fair Grove soccer, in only its fifth year of existence at the high school, is off to a strong 6-1 start.
A strong start that now includes a win over last year's district champion in Greenwood. Tuesday, the Eagles avenged the 2-1 season-ending loss with a 2-0 shutout.
Greenwood's front line found several scoring opportunities in the opening period, but those opportunities were turned away time and time again by a strong Fair Grove defensive effort. Strong 20 mph winds helped push the ball to the western goal in each half, placing additional pressure on the back lines.
Led by goal keeper Autumn Wilson and defender Emilie Armstrong, the Eagle line held up against a relentless Greenwood attack.
Armstrong, in particular, repeatedly cleared balls from the 18-yard box with strong, driving kicks into the wind.
"I've been really trying to work on getting those kicks out wide," Armstrong said. "Our outside mids coming to the ball, and our forwards coming to the ball, is really what makes those kicks effective."
Fair Grove head coach Joseph Florez praised his defense and, in particular, his junior keeper's poise under pressure.
"Autumn Wilson is our goalie, and she's really good," Florez said. "She kept us in there a few times both halves. We wanted to limit them to longer shots, and as long as our defense didn't dive in and just contained, which they did well, we were going to keep them to longer shots. We think Autumn is a goalie that can save most of those on most days."
For nearly 70 minutes, the game remained scoreless, with both Wilson and Greenwood's Jessie Won denying any and all scoring attempts. Then, at 11:11 mark, Fair Grove finally jumped on the board.
Eagle freshman Sheyanne McBroom corralled a loose ball at the center of the 18-yard line, quickly squared up and buried a shot into the Greenwood goal for a 1-0 lead.
"The ball kind of fell to her in the right spot," Florez said. "Sheyanne's just a freshman, but she's my one freshman who's played soccer consistently prior to this year, and I'll take it."
Minutes later, a hand ball in the Greenwood box allowed the Eagles an opportunity for a second goal, which Armstrong calmly pushed into the left corner of the net.
Despite the strong start, Florez noted his team isn't close to where it needs to be just yet.
"I have a lot of athletes on my team," Florez said. "We're trying to slowly turn them into soccer players this year. I have a lot of really fast girls, and we're just trying to get them to figure out some fundamental stuff, still."
For Greenwood, a team still trying to find its early rhythm, the game marked only the second contest of the young season.
Blue Jays head coach Chris Shull attributed the loss to missed opportunities and hopes to build timing and continuity with additional games moving forward in the season.
"We got off to kind of a late start," Shull said. "I know it's cliche, but we're just building game-by-game right now. We've got a game Thursday, so we'll be able to get some continuity instead of having ten days in between our first and second games. We had our chances, but Fair Grove finished their chances, and that's what you have to do."
While aware of the big-game atmosphere this early in the season, both coaches were quick to downplay the emerging district rivalry between the two schools.
"We're both in the same district, so we have to play each other a couple times this season," Florez said. "This isn't the one that really matters. The one that matters is the district final, hopefully. That's what we're trying to get to this year."
Greenwood (0-2) travels to West Plains Thursday, while Fair Grove (6-1) hosts Crocker the following Tuesday.
Fair Grove – 2, Greenwood – 0
Second Half Scoring
11:11 Fair Grove: Sheyanne McBroom (unassisted)
3:00 Fair Grove: Emilie Armstrong (Penalty)
