By Kai Raymer
Each week the O-Zone staff ranks the top 10 area girls’ soccer teams based on dominance by Class, aka how they stack up pound-for-pound with the other schools in their respective Class. These are not head-to-head/overall rankings.
Strength of schedule and recent success are also factored into the rankings. Overall record, class and previous ranking are listed in parenthesis.
As we enter the final weeks of the regular season, let’s find out which teams are beginning to emerge from the pack in the Girls Soccer CoxHealth Power Rankings.
CLICK FOR MARCH 29 GIRLS SOCCER POWER RANKINGS
CLICK HERE FOR APRIL 12 GIRLS SOCCER POWER RANKINGS
1. Catholic (11-3-1, C2, PR: 1) – The Irish let one get away at home against Kickapoo on Monday night, but I still think they fit the bill (most dominant team within their own Class) for the top spot in our power rankings. Catholic (Class 2) remained at No. 2 in last week’s state coaches poll, and they’re only other losses outside of Kickapoo have been to Pattonville (Class 4) and defending Arkansas 7A state champ Bentonville. Catholic’s +32 goal differential is particularly impressive considering the quality schedule it has faced. The healthy return of Peyton McNabb and Emma Skornia – who each had goals against Kickapoo – make the Irish a formidable opponent against any team, regardless of Class. We could see a potential final four preview this weekend, when the Irish travel to Cape Girardeau for the Notre Dame Showcase. The docket includes Cape Girardeau Notre Dame (No. 3 in Class 2), as well as Class 1 strongholds St. Vincent (No. 2) and Saxony Lutheran (No. 1).
Upcoming games: April 26 @ Neosho, April 28-29 @ Cape Girardeau Notre Dame Showcase, May 1 @ Nixa, May 3 vs. Marshfield, May 4 vs. Ozark
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2. Kickapoo (13-3-2, C4, PR: 4) – Before the Kickapoo crowd throws their phones (or laptops) in frustration, let me just say that the Chiefs have shown that they’re the best overall team in our area this season, regardless of Class. If these were head-to-head rankings, the Chiefs would be an easy choice for No. 1. But our power rankings are dictated on dominance by Class, and Class 4 is stacked. We haven’t had a big-school (Class 3 or 4) team make it to the state final four since Nixa in 2013. We’re all in favor of Kickapoo making some new history for the area. Kickapoo’s on the edge of the Class 4 state rankings, and if they had a new poll this week, the Chiefs might crack the Top 10 thanks to recent wins over Ozark and Catholic. Last year, I thought the Chiefs were the most balanced team of the Nixa-Ozark-Kickapoo Class 4 power trio. That’s true again this spring, but the Chiefs have added another dimension to their team that they didn’t have last year: speed. When Kickapoo goes to the bench and brings in freshmen Jalyn McClean and Serena Boyce, the game gets a little crazy and the Chiefs try to exploit that speed advantage against tired back lines or overmatched reserves. Kickapoo’s home slate is over as the Chiefs eye an Ozark Conference championship before districts. Kickapoo’s won its last three conference games (Hillcrest, Joplin, West Plains) by 10-0 outcomes.
Upcoming games: April 27 @ Parkview, May 2 @ Camdenton, May 4 @ Rolla
3. Rolla (10-3-1, Class 3, PR: 2) – Eight hundred wins. 1200 career games coached. Bulldogs coach Mike Howard has been at the helm of Rolla soccer since the early 90s, and he reached a coaching milestone last night with career win No. 800 (boys and girls) after the Bulldogs’ 3-0 victory at Lebanon. Howard was probably happy to see the shutout and his defense return to normal, after a lapse last Thursday at Camdenton. The Bulldogs conceded three goals, a rarity for them. Thankfully, Rolla’s offense picked up the slack with six goals, including a hat trick by senior Olivia Gonzales in a 6-3 road win. How Rolla gives up three goals to both Camdenton and Parkview while only giving up one to Class 3 No. 2-ranked Webster Groves, I’m not quite sure. Howard said the defense will have to improve and find consistency if the Bulldogs want to make a Class 3 postseason run. The Ozark Conference title should be decided next week when the Bulldogs host Kickapoo on May 4.
Upcoming games: April 27 vs. Joplin, May 1 vs. Jefferson City, May 2 @ Glendale, May 4 vs. Kickapoo
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4. Ozark (13-3, Class 4, PR: 3) – We’ll start off with the most important item: if you want to see the excellent dancing skills possessed by the Lady Tigers, click here for our recent all-access feature story on the team. As for the on-field product, Ozark took care of business in recent games against Republic (8-0) and Neosho (8-1), but were up-ended by Kickapoo on April 20. It’s a safe bet that the Tigers and Chiefs will meet again next month, with a Class 4 District 10 championship on the line. After the Kickapoo loss, Ozark coach Tom Davidson mentioned the Ozark girls’ team possibly following the same path as the boys did last fall: lose to the Chiefs in the regular season, win the postseason rematch. Ozark scored a rival win last night, beating Nixa 3-2. Lily Axtel, Ashley McCulloch and Mikayla Putt had goals for the Tigers.
Upcoming games: April 27-29 @ Tournament of Champions (Burlington, Iowa), May 2 vs. Carthage, May 4 @ Springfield Catholic
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5. Bolivar (13-1, Class 3, PR: 6) – There’s some history being made in Polk County, again. Liberators senior Bri Halverson recently surpassed 150 career goals, which puts her into the Top 10 in state history. Fun fact: former Willard star and current Abilene Christian player Dylan Owens previously held the No. 10 mark with 138 career goals. Counting the remaining regular season and the postseason, Halverson has about eight-to-10 games left in her career. At a rate of 2.5 goals per game (not out of question for her), she could finish her career with around 175 career goals, which would put her ahead of former Waynesville standout Katie Pritchard and alone at No. 5 in the state career goals list. Bolivar whipped Clinton 8-0 last night, with Halverson netting four goals. Don’t overlook the Liberators’ defense, though. Bolivar goalkeeper Reaghan Lesh has guided a defense that’s posted 12 shutouts and only allowed six total goals on the season, four of which came in a loss to Catholic.
Upcoming games: April 28-29 @ Willard Tournament, May 1 vs. Greenwood, May 2 @ Carl Junction
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6. Nixa (9-4-1, Class 4, PR: 5) – Did the Eagles peak too early? Nixa had a great home win over Class 4 No. 6-ranked St. Teresa’s Academy on April 6, but has slumped a bit since. Nixa needed PKs to beat Glendale at home last Thursday, then fell 3-2 at home to Ozark last night. The four-time defending district champs benefit from being in a district without Kickapoo or Ozark, so they’re postseason streak is still very much alive.
Upcoming games: April 26 @ Carl Junction, April 27 @ Carthage, May 1 vs. Springfield Catholic, May 2 vs. Webb City, May 4 @ Willard
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7. Rogersville (11-5-2, Class 2, PR: 7) – The Wildcats have come a long since that 0-for-11 start a year ago, and they’re taking care of a business in a way you’d like to see from a team on the rise. Rogersville’s hammered Class 1 teams like Laquey (8-0) and New Covenant (8-0) in the past week, in addition to Class 3 victories over Aurora (7-0) and Hillcrest (4-1). Rogersville’s win over Parkview (2-1) at the Branson Tournament last weekend is even more impressive considering Parkview’s recent 1-0 win against Glendale. The Wildcats are on pace to finish with their most single-season wins since 2011. Considering their first meeting with Catholic this season was a competitive 4-2 loss, the Wildcats may have a say as to who is Southwest Missouri’s lone Class 2 playoff representative this year.
Upcoming games: April 27 @ Greenwood, May 2 vs. Marshfield, May 3 vs. Central
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8. MV-BT/Liberty (5-5-1, Class 1, PR: 10) – When you’re Liberty, you have to get a bit creative and willing to compromise when it comes to scheduling games. The Eagles basically play anyone, anywhere, traveling to Aurora last night (and winning 5-3), and heading to Sikeston (May 3) next week. It’s a unique schedule, but the Eagles are likely destined for the No. 1 seed in next month’s Class 1 District 6 tournament thanks to victories over Crocker, Greenwood, West Plains, Branson and Aurora. Crocker received a vote in last week’s state coaches’ poll, a bit perplexing considering the loss to Liberty. So who’s led this Liberty team that’s only played 11 games through late April? Start with sophomore Amanda Mantel, who led the Eagles in scoring last year as a freshman and currently has a team-high 16 goals along with two assists. Amber Collins (3 goals), Kristina Stockton (3 goals), Angelina Herold (4 assists) and Tehya Pierce (2 assists) have provided additional support in the attack. Liberty’s defense has yielded one goal or less in five matches.
Upcoming games: May 27 vs. Laquey, May 2 @ Sikeston, May 5 @ St. James
9. Glendale (7-7-1, Class 3, PR: 8) – Can I get the shrug emoji here? The last few slots in these rankings are typically a bit wonky and fluid, particularly this week. The Falcons had a respectable showing at the Kickapoo Shootout April 14-15, beating Jefferson City (2-1), with close losses to Timberland (4-2) and Hickman (2-0). Glendale followed that up with a 3-0 road win at Lebanon on April 17, only to lose the next night to Parkview (1-0), for the first time since current head coach Shelby Stewart was a player. The Vikings are a young team on the rise, but I didn’t foresee that result was surprising. Glendale returned to form later in the week with a 2-1 (PKs) loss at Nixa. It was a rugged stretch – six games in seven days – so the Falcons may have been on tired legs against Parkview. Glendale, which beat Hillcrest 5-0 last night, has a better overall resume than Parkview at this point, so the Falcons remain in the Top 10 for now.
Upcoming games: May 2 vs. Rolla, May 8 @ Waynesville, May 9 vs. Kickapoo
10. Neosho (10-5, Class 3, PR: 9) – Continuing this week’s theme of up-and-down teams, Neosho came up short in PKs over the weekend as Joplin took home the Neosho Tournament championship. The Wildcats peppered Joplin with 27 overall shots, including 14 on goal, but couldn’t find the back of the net during regulation or overtime. Neosho, which also beat McDonald County 6-0 and Carthage 3-0, didn’t allow a goal during its two-day weekend tournament. I’d like to see Neosho be more competitive against the top-level teams – the Wildcats have a -29 goal differential in four of their five losses – but they’re headed for the No. 1 seed in their district tournament, so the postseason is not out of sight. The Wildcats, who won a 1-0 at Branson last night, are in the midst of three games in three days.
Upcoming games: April 26 vs. Catholic, April 27 @ Aurora, May 1 vs. McDonald County, May 2 vs. Willard, May 4 vs. Webb City
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Knocking on the door: Crocker (6-9, Class 1), Fair Grove (8-6, Class 1), Greenwood (3-6, Class 1), Monett (8-6, Class 2), Carl Junction (8-5, Class 3)
