By Denise Tucker
The Bolivar Lady Liberators are headed back to the quarterfinals for the second straight year, but this time in Class 3, after their 5-0 sectional victory over Neosho on Tuesday night.
Last season, the Lady Liberators (18-1) advanced to the quarterfinals in Class 2 before falling to Pembroke Hill, 2-0. But the bump up in class hasn’t seemed to slow down this group.
“It’s an awesome feeling, and just to be stepping out on the field with these ladies, especially,” said Bolivar senior and Saint Louis University signee, Brionna Halverson. “This year, we have a special team. You just feel that everybody wants it, and we’re honestly looking forward to this next game and we think we’ll bring it.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
It took nearly 21 minutes before Bolivar got on the board. Halverson’s stepover on the left side freed her up to send a bullet of a pass into Ally Hargis in front of the goal, and Hargis capitalized to put the Lady Liberators up 1-0.
“We definitely wanted to put one away right away, so it was nice to have that and that kind of fueled the fire for our team,” Halverson said. “We were juiced. We were pumped. We were ready, so it was good to have that.”
With about 10 minutes remaining in the half, Halverson stole the ball outside the right side of the Neosho box and took on two defenders before getting fouled. Halverson, who had been shut out the previous two games, buried the penalty kick in the lower right corner of the goal for a 2-0 Bolivar lead.
“It’s been a rough couple of games, but just getting back out there and getting back in the flow again, it felt nice,” said Halverson, who added two more goals in the second half to give her 54 for the season and 162 for her career. “It kind of gives me an opportunity to give some other people some goals, and I’m perfectly fine with that. Hey, as long as we get some in the back of the net, it’s great.”
The Bolivar defense was stingy most of the night, as well, allowing Neosho only two shots on goal in the first half and six total for the game, while the Bolivar offense kept the pressure on.
“Our speed and depth… our girls are just relentless,” Bolivar coach Steve Fast said. “We’re able to sub in the next six bodies and we don’t drop off hardly at all. Our defense is solid. They just don’t give up very many shots. Our defense is so strong, and we’re able to sub those (midfielders) and forwards whenever we want, and we just keep the pressure on people.”
Neosho, which ended its season at 17-7, advanced the farthest the program has ever gotten.
“That was a big goal for us, to get through that district (Class 3 District 12) finally,” Neosho coach Steve Schnackenberg said. “We did that, and we’ve just got to get to the next step now.
“Bolivar did a good job. They played a good, strong, solid game and we’ve got to learn from that, and learn what it’s like to do that. I don’t feel like we brought our ‘A’ game tonight, but I think that we definitely did throughout the season, and we’ve had a great season.”
Senior midfielder Mary Grace Harris added the final goal for Bolivar, which travels to Washington (21-4), a 3-0 winner over Glendale, at 1 p.m. Saturday.
“I know that they’re going to be very good and they’re going to be ready. But, I definitely feel like if we come out like we did tonight, and just bring the fuel that we were fueling our fire with, we’ll put up a good show and hopefully, we’ll put it away and keep going on,” Halverson said. “This group is something special and they’ve got a lot of potential and it’s awesome. It’s a blessing to be on the field with them.”
And, to be back in the quarterfinals after moving up in class, is quite a feat.
“We’re one of the smallest Class 3’s in Missouri,” Fast said. “They came out, they worked hard, they played hard. They play together, most of all. And, it’s just tough to break that bond to get through that district and that sectional.
“We’re just one day at a time and one game at a time. It’s just very impressive on their part to move up a class and just keep this thing rolling.”
BOLIVAR LADY LIBERATORS 5, NEOSHO LADY WILDCATS 0
CLASS 3 SECTIONAL
At Bolivar
Neosho (17-7) – 0-0—0
Bolivar (18-1) – 2-3—5
First-half scoring
Bolivar – Ally Hargis (assisted by Brionna Halverson) – 21’
Bolivar – Halverson (penalty kick) – 30’
Second-half scoring
Bolivar – Halverson (unassisted) – 50’
Bolivar – Halverson (assisted by Allee Sheppeck) – 61’
