By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Over the course of a season, you find out a lot about your team.
One thing the Greenwood Blue Jays have discovered recently: Zach Bailey should take more free kicks.
The sophomore forward scored twice off restarts in Greenwood’s 3-0, weather-shortened win over Cassville on Tuesday evening.
“You just have to be confident at what you do,” Bailey said. “You can practice and practice, then you get out there and look at how the defense is lined up. Then, you just let it rip.”
Bailey converted on two free kicks (8’, 48’) to give Greenwood all the offense it would need. In between, junior midfielder Hugh McWay set up sophomore Gavin Duncan for a goal (40’) just seconds before halftime.
Greenwood improved to 12-3 overall. The Blue Jays have scored at least two goals in all but four matches.
“It’s a collective bunch,” Greenwood coach Chris Shull said about his team. “We have some experienced (soccer) players on the field, but it’s mostly just athletes, you know? Players who are like, ‘Hey, I played soccer when I was seven. But you know what? I’m going to make a comeback.’”
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Greenwood moved up to No. 4 in Class 1 in the Oct. 11 Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association (MSHSSCA) state poll.
The Blue Jays have already surpassed their win totals from the last two seasons (7-11 in 2018 and 8-12 in 2017).
They haven’t experienced this much regular-season success since reaching the final four in 2016.
“I thought we’d better than last year, but I didn’t think we’d be this good,” Bailey said. “It’s really been good. We’ve made a lot of improvements in practice and worked hard to get here.”
Bailey’s first goal came just a few feet above the left corner marker.
“I saw the goalie kind of coming toward the (near) post a little bit, so I tried to lob and curve it over him,” Bailey said.
The Blue Jays have recently called on Bailey to take free kicks and corner kicks.
“It’s been a new discovery,” Shull said.
Greenwood made it 2-0 in the 40th minute when McWay’s crosser landed at the feet of Duncan, who gathered the ball and converted from the middle.
Bailey struck again in the 48th minute. From about 20 yards out at the middle-left, he struck a ball that curved past a four-player wall and through.
“I kind of curved it around on the ground because I knew (the ground) was wet and (the ball) would skip over,” Bailey said. “I couldn’t really see (where the shot went) because of the wall, but I peeked around and I’m like, ‘Oh, wow. It went in.’”
Said Shull: “It was sloppy weather, so any chance to score on dead balls are good. “You want to have that ability going into districts.”
Due to lightning and heavy rain, both head coaches agreed to end the match in the 52nd minute.
The Blue Jays also beat Cassville (6-13 overall) 5-1 in the Greenwood Classic on Sept. 28.
Cassville returns to action Oct. 17 at home against Springfield Catholic. Greenwood is off until an Oct. 24 match against potential district opponent Thomas Jefferson.
