Each week, O-Zone will release local girls’ soccer power rankings, based on dominance by Class. These are not meant to be overall head-to-head rankings, but rather a measure of which teams are the best in their respective Classes at the moment.
Recent success and strength of schedule are factored into the rankings.
APRIL 6 POWER RANKINGS
APRIL 13 POWER RANKINGS
APRIL 20 POWER RANKINGS
APRIL 27 POWER RANKINGS
Current record, Class and previous ranking are listed in parenthesis.
1. Rolla (17-3-1, C3, PR: 1) – Despite some close calls in recent outings, the Bulldogs remain at No. 1 for this week’s power rankings. The Bulldogs claimed an undefeated Ozark Conference championship on Tuesday night with a 1-0 (PK) win over Glendale. That final score may surprise some, including myself, but as you’ll see below, the Falcons have vastly improved over the last month and a half. Rolla saw its 10-game winning streak snapped on Monday with a 2-1 road loss at Class 4 8th-ranked Jefferson City. Two of the Bulldogs’ three losses have come to state-ranked teams in Webster Groves and Jefferson City. Those are also the only two teams to score more than one goal on Rolla this season. Rolla finishes the regular season with road games at Carl Junction (May 10) and Osage (May 12).
2. Kickapoo (18-3-2, C4, PR: 2) – The Chiefs continue to trend upward heading into the district tournament. After going 2-2 in a competitive pool at the Kickapoo Shootout in mid-April, the Chiefs have posted eight straight victories. Recent outcomes include a 10-0 win over Parkview (April 28), a 4-0 home win against MICDS (April 29), and Tuesday’s 7-0, Senior-Night drubbing of Camdenton, a squad that had played the Chiefs to a 2-0 loss in mid-March. All three of Kickapoo’s seniors registered goals in Tuesday’s win over Camdenton. Kickapoo has two big matches next week to finish the regular season, hosting state-ranked Jefferson City on Monday, May 9 and rival Glendale on Wednesday, May 11. The Chiefs will be the No. 1 seed for the Class 4, District 10 tournament – held at Kickapoo – in two weeks.
3. Catholic (13-6-1, C2, PR: 3) – In the midst of a stacked late-season schedule, the Irish are taking their lumps right now but hope to emerge better off in time for the Class 2 postseason. After playing Kickapoo to a 1-0, double-OT loss on April 25, Catholic handled Class 4 MICDS 3-1 on Saturday. In Monday’s 3-1 home loss to Nixa, the Irish gave up two goals late in the first half on their way to their sixth loss of the year. Keep this in mind, though: Catholic’s not going to have to worry about the likes of Kickapoo, Eureka, Nixa and Kirkwood in a few weeks. The schedule will ease up. The Irish have played four Class 2 teams thus far and are 4-0 in those contests, including wins over likely district finals opponent Bolivar (2-1) and Class 2 No. 10-ranked Maryville (1-0). Catholic faces more big-school competition in its final four regular season games: at Ozark (May 5), at Carl Junction (May 9), versus Waynesville (May 10) and at Central (May 10).
4. Ozark (17-3, C4, PR: 4) – A rainstorm couldn’t stop the Tigers from taking the consolation title at the Tournament of Champions in Burlington, Iowa over the weekend. After a disappointing 4-1 loss to Springfield (Ill.) High to start the tournament, Ozark rebounded with a 1-0 win over Dunlap (Ill.) and a 3-0 win against Rockport (Ill.). I’m still waiting for Ozark to post that “premier” win this season, but the Tigers have as much potential as any local team. After pasting Carthage 10-0 last night, Ozark hosts Catholic on Thursday. The Tigers close the regular season next week with home games against Willard (May 10) and Carl Junction (May 12). A win over Willard would give the Tigers an undefeated conference championship. Ozark faces Nixa in the Class 4 District 10 semifinals on May 17.
5. Nixa (13-5, C4, PR: 5) – Nixa’s aggressive style with its backline put Catholic on its heels in Monday’s non-conference matchup. The Eagles tallied two goals late in the first half on their way to a 3-1 road victory against the Irish. Junior Alex Johnson has emerged as Nixa’s go-to scorer, leading the Eagles with 21 goals to go with 7 seven assists. If you’re wondering why Nixa’s slotted below Catholic despite its recent win over the Irish: Class 4’s a lot tougher than Class 2. Simply put, Catholic has a more favorable road through districts and the state tournament than Ozark and Nixa do in Class 4. Nixa, which won 7-0 at Webb City last night behind a hat trick from Johnson and two goals from Daley Townsend, hosts Willard for Senior Night on Thursday. The Eagles close the regular season at Branson on May 10.
6. Bolivar (14-2-0, C2, PR: 6) – This might be the hottest team in the area right now. Bolivar’s played quality soccer over the past two and a half weeks, highlighted by last night’s 1-0 home win against Carl Junction. That’s a Class 3 Carl Junction team which was 13-4-1 overall entering the match and will have a strong chance to reach the state quarterfinals. No doubt, beating CJ is Bolivar’s best win of the season thus far. Bolivar won the Willard Tournament over the weekend as well, beating Willard 3-0 in the finals to avenge an earlier PK loss to the Tigers. Liberators junior Brionna Halverson, who recently surpassed 100 career goals, scored twice against Willard and showed why she’s one of the area’s top players. As a team, Bolivar has allowed only four goals all season and recorded 12 shutouts. If not for a strong trio of Class 4 teams ahead of them in these rankings, Bolivar would be ranked higher this week. With winnable games against Clinton (May 9), Aurora (May 10) and Camdenton (May 12) to close the regular season, Bolivar could be riding a 12-game winning streak into a potential district finals match with Catholic in a few weeks.
7. Glendale (6-10, C3, PR: Unranked) – Finally, some new blood in these power rankings. And the Falcons, despite their sub-.500 record, have earned their way in. In the past two weeks, Glendale has played Nixa to a double-OT loss (2-1) and undefeated Ozark Conference champ Rolla to a PK loss on the road. If you were like me, you may have dismissed the Falcons’ chances after early season lopsided losses to Ozark and Catholic. But Coach Jeff Rogers and a new-look varsity group have made steady improvements over the course of the season. Glendale’s starting six new players that didn’t suit up against Ozark, including five that came out for the team the day after the game. First-year goalkeeper Emma Brand – a standout volleyball player – is one of many Falcons playing the sport for the first time. Rogers says it’s an athletic, coachable group that’s eager to get better. Glendale also has some familiar names playing well. Juniors Kristin Knetzer (team-high 13 goals, 5 assists) and Kate Arthur (4 goals, team-high 8 assists) are leading the Falcons’ attack. Freshman Emma Miller (9 goals) has been a good rookie addition. The competitive loss to Rolla figures to give Glendale confidence going forward, considering the two teams will likely meet again in mid-May for the Class 4 District 10 championship. Glendale finishes the regular season with a Senior-Night game against Kickapoo (May 9) and a trip across town to face Kickapoo (May 11).
8. Fair Grove (11-4, C1, PR: 8) – Another week, another instance of Fair Grove at No. 8 and me not being sure if there’s any significant separation among Fair Grove-Crocker-Dixon in the Class 1 pecking order. Fair Grove went 1-2 at the Willard tournament over the weekend, beating Aurora 3-0 but losing to Bolivar (5-0) and Willard’s JV (1-0). Fair Grove owns wins over district opponents New Covenant, Laquey and Greenwood, but wouldn't face Crocker (6-12-1overall) until a potential district finals meeting. Dixon faces Crocker this Friday in a matchup that should shed a lot more light on the local Class 1 scene. As for Fair Grove, the Eagles beat Monett 4-0 on Monday in their Senior Night game. Fair Grove has home games against Aurora tomorrow and Newburg on Friday. Fair Grove finishes the regular season next week with road games at New Covenant (May 9) and Webb City (May 12).
Knocking on the door: Carl Junction (13-5-1, C3), Dixon (7-4, C1), Mountain View-Birch Tree/Liberty (5-6, C2), Republic (10-6, C3)
