By Nolan Epstein
Springfield, Mo. — For 65 minutes Monday, it appeared that Nixa freshman keeper Riley McClintock and her inspiring effort in goal was going to dominate the postgame chatter, but a fellow freshman for the Kickapoo Lady Chiefs would have none of it.
Forward Jalyn McClean, one of the budding young stars for head coach Phil Hodge’s team, knocked in two late goals for the Lady Chiefs (5-3-2) following a scoreless stalemate to clinch a 2-0 win over the visiting Nixa Lady Eagles (4-2-1).
And it seemed like only a matter of time – considering Kickapoo had its way offensively with Nixa for the entirety of the match.
“I felt really good about our game plan tonight, and just coming out and executing,” Hodge said after the victory. “We had a lot of control of the game tonight.”
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With McClintock making countless saves to neutralize a ferocious Kickapoo attack, McClean took it upon herself to finally break through with just 14:38 remaining in the second half.
After narrowly missing a go-ahead strike ten minutes earlier, the quick freshman utilized her speed on a breakaway – busting past sophomore defender Annslee Glenn to secure prime position and rifling the ball into the net from six yards out.
“We bring [McClean] in off the bench, who has already got some big goals for us, and she obviously steps in tonight and scores two more big ones for us,” said Hodge. “As a freshman, she’s a dynamic player. I’m excited to see her grow for four more years.”
McClean, whose mother played her collegiate soccer at Missouri State, showed off the athletic genes one more time in the game’s 80th minute by getting around her defender again and collecting her second goal from roughly nine yards away to seal the deal.
“As I was going around, [the defender] starting pulling my shirt and my pants,” McClean said of her second score. “I kind of just pushed her off, went around and found another corner.”
The victory for the Lady Chiefs came at an opportune time after Kickapoo went winless in its previous three matches during the talent-filled St. Joe Classic.
“The girls are getting more and more confidence as we get going,” Hodges added. “We’re kind of establishing who we are as a team.”
Perhaps nobody is gaining more confidence than McClean, who was delighted to help exact a measure of revenge on a Nixa squad that eliminated the Lady Chiefs in the district finals a season ago.
“I’m just happy to bring it home,” McClean said. “All the seniors are trying to get everything back from last year during districts.”
Both teams are back on the pitch tomorrow as Kickapoo hosts Central, while Nixa stays on the road and travels to face Joplin.
