By DON ESKINS, Springfield, MO – The Greenwood Blue Jays entered this week’s prep soccer scene as Missouri’s third ranked Class 1 high school.
For the New Covenant Warriors, who squared off against the Jays on Thursday afternoon, this wasn’t good news.
The Jays, who entertained New Covenant at the Cooper Soccer Complex in Springfield, lived up to their number three ranking by going on to shutout the Warriors 2-0.
Although scoring just twice, in pushing their record up to 11-5-1, the Blue Jays dominated the confrontation. The Jays put up eighteen shots on goal while holding the Warriors to just four.
“This was a typical Greenwood vs New Covenant game. The kids always play tough on both sides and it’s usually always close,” said Greenwood head coach Chris Shull. “We’re the only two teams in our district still located in Springfield so this game has grown into quite a rivalry.”
Neither team could drive the ball into the net throughout most of the first period of play. But at the 4.22 mark Blue Jay junior forward Don Han booted the ball into the goal to put Greenwood out in front 1-0.
“Julius Walker got me the ball and I was able to get it in for the score,,” Han said. “It was just a great team effort.”
With Han’s score the Blue Jays took the break up 1-0.
The Warriors, who had upset on their minds, kept the score to within one as second period play got underway.
But any ideas New Covenant may have had about stealing a win from the Jays evaporated at the 21.12 mark of the second period as senior midfielder Ty Dupree drilled a shot into the goal to push the Blue Jays lead up to 2-0 and seal the Warriors fate.
“I got a ball from Josh Henry,” said Dupree. “He was able to serve me a good ball in and it allowed me to go head to head with the keeper. I got it in and we were up 2-0. This win was huge for us- it really puts a shine on our record as we head into district.”
Although coming up on the short end of the scoreboard Warrior head coach Eric Crain
felt his kids had played well.
“We’re 5-10 on the season and it hasn’t been the best of years for us,” said Crain. “But we’ve got some great kids with great attitudes who come out every day to work hard and improve. We still have a lot of season left and a lot to contunue working for. I’m very proud of them.”
Warrior goalie, sophomore Cameron Altena, showed up especially big for them in their 2-0 loss to Greenwood. Altena kept New Covenant in the game by registering twelve saves.
“We played really good during both periods today,” Altena said. “I think if we continue to play the style of soccer we did today, against who coach Crain said should be the number one team at district, we’ll be ready to compete.”
As for Greenwood, they’re cruising, and their number three ranking has many Blue Jay fans thinking that maybe this could be the year for the program to register its first state title.
“We’re taking things one step at a time,” Blue Jay coach Shull said. “We want to finish the season strong, then set our sights on winning a district title. If we can get that done, then we’ll start gearing up for a shot at a state championship.”
Greenwood last won a district title in 2006.
The MSHSAA schedule has the Blue Jays playing host to Logan-Rogersville on Tuesday. The Warriors will travel to Aurora for a game on Monday.
Box Score 1 2 F Warriors 0 0 0 Blue Jays 1 1 2
