Every two weeks, OzarksSportsZone.com will release local boys’ soccer power rankings. Like our other power rankings lists, these rankings will be based on dominance by Class, not head-to-head.
Recent success and strength of schedule are also factored into the rankings.
Overall record and Class are listed in parenthesis.
SEPT. 12 BOYS' SOCCER POWER RANKINGS
AUG. 29 BOYS' SOCCER POWER RANKINGS
As the weather turns to fall, we turn our eyes to districts and the postseason in this week’s O-Zone Boys’ Soccer Power Rankings. Could this be a year where SWMO gets three, maybe even four teams to state? Allow me to jinx everyone this week.
1. Kickapoo (12-1, C4, PR: 2) – If only districts started this week for the Chiefs. There’s no hotter team in the area right now than Kickapoo, which won the Brown Division of the Kickapoo Shootout over the weekend. Kickapoo edged Smith-Cotton 2-1 in overtime on Thursday, and then posted impressive wins over Jeff City (4-0) and Sacred Heart (7-0) the next two days. The Chiefs enter this week on a 12-game winning streak. The Chiefs are this close to cracking the state rankings in Class 4. If Kickapoo can advance out of districts and win its sectional game, the Chiefs would likely draw a Lee’s Summit team from District 12 in the state quarterfinals. Lee’s Summit North, Lee’s Summit West and Lee’s Summit are all ranked or receiving votes in Class 4, but the Chiefs would only have to beat one of those teams to give us a Class 4 team at state for the second straight year, which would be quite an accomplishment for SWMO soccer. The Chiefs are about to take on some of the state’s best teams over the next two weeks, notably Class 4 No. 1-ranked Rockhurst and Class 4 No. 3-ranked CBC.
Upcoming games: Sept. 27 vs. Joplin, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 Gateway Classic (St. Louis), Oct. 4 @ Waynesville, Oct. 7 vs. CBC, Oct. 8 vs. Rockhurst
2. Glendale (9-4, C3, PR: 1) – Glendale, Rolla, Carthage all appear to be on the same level and could all beat one another on a given night, but the Falcons are 3-0 against Rolla and Carthage (two victories) this season, so they’ve earned the No. 2 spot and the highest ranking of our Class 3 teams. Glendale rallied from a one-goal deficit twice against Rolla last week, before ultimately winning on a late Sean Perryman PK. Glendale, though, could use a bye week as the Falcons have been hit with a rash of injuries lately. If healthy come late October, expect the Falcons to push for their third state final four appearance in four years.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: GLENDALE'S JOSH CALL
Upcoming games: Sept. 26 @ West Plains, Sept. 27 @ Lebanon, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 @ Gateway Classic (St. Louis), Sept. 8 vs. Vianney
3. Carthage (12-2, C3, PR: 3) – Only a pair of one-goal losses to Glendale have prevented the Tigers from compiling a 14-0 start. Carthage has had one of the area’s most consistent attacks – at least two goals in 11 of 14 matches thus far. Carthage took a big a first step in securing its district No. 1 seed with a recent 7-0 win over Willard. The Tigers also took third at the Kickapoo Shootout (Gold Division) over the weekend: 3-2 over Sikeston, a 2-1 loss to Glendale, and a 4-3 win over Greenwood in the third place game. Carthage is three wins away from an undefeated COC-Large title.
Upcoming games: Sept. 27 vs. Branson, Sept. 29-30 Gateway Classic (St. Louis), Oct. 4 @ Republic, Oct. 12 @ Carl Junction
4. Nixa (10-2, C4, PR: 6) – Gutsy, gutsy effort by the Eagles over the weekend, as they won the Gold Division of the Kickapoo Shootout with wins over Poplar Bluff, Greenwood and Glendale. Did I mention they didn’t have Parker Crawford, perhaps the area’s top player? He’s pretty good. As for Nixa’s active players, I expected them to be motivated and hungry the rest of the way as they look to prove to everyone that they’re still a premier team minus Crawford. His absence means more opportunities for seniors like Kevin King and Payton Wissig, along with promising underclassmen such as Jacob Romero, sophomore midfielder Hunter Daniels and freshman Andrew Anello, who had a hat trick against Poplar Bluff. Nixa simply dismantled Ozark last Tuesday, in what was likely Crawford’s final high school match.
Upcoming games: Sept. 27 vs. Willard, Oct. 4 vs. Springfield Catholic, Sept. 7 vs. Blue Valley Northwest (Kan.) @ Jefferson City, Oct. 8 vs. Marquette @ Jefferson City
5. Rolla (6-4-3, C3, PR: 4) – An up-and-down week for the Bulldogs, who let a pair of leads slip away in a 3-2 loss at Glendale last Monday, but rebounded with a 1-0 road win over Helias Catholic two days later. The Helias Catholic win is notable because Rolla and Helias are in the same district; we would have an all-SWMO sectional/quarterfinal pod next month if Rolla wins its district, Rolla followed up the win over Helias by going 1-0-2 at its own tournament over the weekend, beating Battle 5-0 on Friday then playing Ozark and Southern Boone to nil-nil draws. Always take tournament results, especially Saturday doubleheaders, with a grain of salt considering the short turnaround time and fatigue factors affecting teams. Drew Blair was in goal for all three of Rolla’s shutouts this past week, and coach Mike Howard said the return of Stewart Meusch has bolstered the defense. Goals are at a premium in the postseason and Rolla’s defense means it can play with anyone.
Upcoming games: Sept. 26 vs. Waynesville, Sept. 28 @ Hillcrest, Oct. 3 vs. Lebanon, Oct. 6 @ Central, Oct. 8 vs. Pacific
6. Monett (8-5-1, C2, PR: 7) – Monett or Catholic, Catholic or Monett? We found out the answer last Monday, and it was that these two teams are really, really close. Monett bested Catholic 2-1 at home in PKs, but thankfully, we’re likely to see these two meet again in the sectional round where the Cubs will try to make it three in a row over the Irish. After falling behind 1-0 early against Catholic, Monett tied it on an Adrian Moncivaiz goal, assisted by Carlos Izaguirre. The match went to PKs, then sudden death PKs, where Monett won it as Cameron Cody’s save was followed by Fernando Rodas’ conversion. Monett went 2-1 at the Willard Fall Classic over the weekend, beating Bolivar and Rogersville while losing to Republic for the second time this season.
Upcoming games: Sept. 27 @ College Heights Christian, Sept. 29 vs. Ozark, Oct. 3 @ Cassville, Oct. 4 vs. Willard, Oct. 10 vs. Bolivar
7. Catholic (9-4, C4, PR: 8) – Despite the 2-1 loss in PKs to Monett, it’s been an otherwise solid two weeks for the Irish, who have beaten the likes of Bolivar (4-0), Class 3 Carl Junction (2-0), Class 3 Sikeston (3-0) and Class 4 Poplar Bluff (4-3, OT) since Sept. 12. They face a good test tomorrow night against Central.
Upcoming games: Sept. 27 vs. Central, Sept. 29 vs. Branson, Oct. 4 @ Nixa, Oct. 7 @ Seckman, Oct. 8 @ Northwest (Cedar Hill)
8. Greenwood (8-4-1, C1, PR: Unranked) – Sacred Heart getting bumped out of the SWMO sectional pod really opens the door for us to get a Class 1 team to state. Enter Greenwood. The Blue Jays cracked the Top 5 of the Class 1 rankings last week. That wasn’t necessarily a surprise, but I’ll admit that Greenwood receiving three first-place votes caught my eye. Considering Greenwood, Laquey or even College Heights Christian would be favorites in the quarterfinal round to beat whoever comes out of a non-Sacred Heart District 5… that means the District 6 tournament will be a battle to survive and make a run to Fenton. Remember, there’s no sectional round in Class 1 – just quarterfinals. Greenwood had a respectable showing at the Kickapoo Shootout over the weekend: beating Waynesville 3-0, losing to Nixa 2-0 and playing Carthage to a 4-3 loss in the Gold Division 3rd place game. Greenwood boats an eight-player senior class that includes athletic midfielder Julius Walker, versatile forward/goalkeeper Garrett Nau and defender Noah Shuler.
Upcoming games: vs. Northland Christian, Oct. 4 @ Cassville, Oct. 6 vs. New Covenant Academy
9. Republic (11-3, C3, PR: 9) – Republic remains stuck at this familiar No. 9 spot again, due to losses to Central and Willard (PKs) over the past two weeks. But I don’t think Carthage getting out of District 11 is a sure-thing like many would have assumed coming into this season; Republic (or Willard) should give them a good fight in the finals and Republic would have the benefit of home field. All three of Republic’s losses have come by one goal.
Upcoming games: Sept. 28 @ Carl Junction, Oct. 4 vs. Carthage, Oct. 7 @ McDonald County
10. Laquey (8-6, C1, PR: 5) – Up-and-down two weeks for Laquey, who posted a quality win (2-0) over Belle last Tuesday, but fell to Crocker 4-3 in the title game of the Frisco League Tournament on Sept. 24 despite a hat trick from Tristan Gan, who’s having an all-region/all-state caliber season for the Hornets. Laquey also took losses to Willard (5-1) and College Heights Christian (1-0) since Sept. 12, the latter of which Laquey could meet again in the Class 1, District 6 semifinals next month.
Upcoming games: Sept. 29 vs. Dixon, Sept. 30 vs. Iberia, Oct. 6 vs. Osage, Oct. 10 vs. Richland
Knocking on the door: College Heights Christian (9-5, C1), Crocker (5-2, C1), Willard (8-5-2, C3), Springfield Central (12-2, C4)
