The Marshfield Lady Jays hosted the Nixa Lady Eagles Thursday night. The Lady Eagles’ confidence level was high coming off an impressive game Tuesday against Catholic.

Nixa came out strong and hit the Lady Jays early. In the first ten minutes of the game, the Lady Eagles had scored two goals; one by senior forward Stephanie Allen and one by freshman out-side midfielder Kelsey Bartell. Both goals exemplified Nixa’s renewed confidence and hunger for goals. Tenacity and aggressiveness now are typical for the Lady Eagles in the 18 yard box. There is also a noticable improvement in offensive play as the Lady Eagles are putting their would-be defenders on their heels by frequently attacking 1 v 1 in the middle third and offensive third of the field.

Marshfield did not give up however and netted a goal of their own early in the first half. It came as as the Lady Jays’ Ashley Honeycutt slipped behind the Nixa defense and slotted the ball into the net.

Nixa’s Allen returned the favor later in the half on an unassisted run along the end line and beat the keeper. The half time score was 3-1.

The only score of the second half also belonged to Allen. She earned a PK as a result of being tripped on a break-away in the penalty box. The goal gave Allen a hat trick and put the finishing touch on the victory.

It should be noted that Kristen Miller had several good saves for the Lady Eagles. The narrow Marshfield pitch produces many scoring opportunities and makes corner kicks especially interesting.

Final Score
Nixa 4
Marshfield 1

The Nixa Lady Eagles hosted the Catholic Lady Irish on Tuesday evening. Based upon the records of each team, the game wasn’t supposed to be close. The Lady Eagles had other ideas, however.

Nixa played well and almost pulled off the upset. The Lady Eagles are clearly playing with more confidence. The early season problem of expecting bad results seems to be resolving itself. In recent games, Nixa has scored ten goals (MV-BT), five goals (Hillcrest), and found a way to win a tough game (Bolivar).

The Lady Eagles now seem to be expecting good things to happen as their play is more focused, better organized in the mid-field and defense, and are more hungry in the attacking third. All of these qualities combined Tuesday evening for their most entertaining match of the season.

The first half was played to a scoreless draw. The play was back and forth. Possession was relatively even between the teams and as the Lady Eagles were well spaced and able to hold their own in the mid-field. Freshman center-midfielder Kelsey Haist and sophomore center-midfielder Jo Pavlowsky both played very well. They challenged their Catholic opponents in the middle of the field, rarely allowing an uncontested possession. Both Haist and Pavlowsky also were able to gain possession of many 50/50 challenges and start an offensive attack.

The defense also played especially well in the first half. Sweeper junior, Luce Crim stood her ground, kept the defense organized, and also cleared several goal kicks far into midfield. Freshman goalie Kristen Miller played another good game. She made several key saves that kept her team positive. Miller clearly has the potential to develop into an excellent goalie in the next three years.

Having played so well in the first half, there might have been an expectation that they Lady Eagles would come out a little tired and flat in the second half. That didn’t happen. While the Lady Irish did have the possession advantage in the second half, Nixa’s play was still aggressive and organized.

The opening score came off of a Catholic corner kick by #30, freshman Natalie Smid. #5 Anna DeLong rushed toward the ball and headed it near post past Miller. It was a good play by DeLong and a well-place ball by Smid.

The goal did not break the Lady Eagles’ spirit however. In fact, play intensified after the goal and the Lady Eagles were able to make several attacking runs. One of those runs resulted in a corner kick. Senior defender Jacklyn Finley served up a good ball about 10 yards in front of the goal. The Lady Eagles pounced the ball. Outside midfielder Hannah Barber and Jo Pavlowsky are developing into excellent targets as both are aggressive and hungry in the box. Finley’s corner was found by Pavlowsky. After a scrum in the 6 yard box, the ball was directed to senior forward Stephanie Allen, who was just outside the scrum in front of the goal. Allen kicked the ball in the net. The Lady Eagles had fought back against a strong opponent and found success. It was a clear indication of their maturity as a team and the improvement that Coach Palmer has made in their mental approach to the game.

The end of regulation came with the score tied 1-1. The first overtime proved disapointing as DeLong scored her second of the night on the golden goal. DeLong was able to break behind the defense in the 5th minute of the overtime and place the ball in the right side of the net as Miller came out to challenge.

Final Score OT
Nixa 1
Catholic 2

The Nixa Lady Eagles played Hillcrest at the Nixa Community Center Monday evening. The Lady Eagles once again were able to score early and often.

Senior Stephanie Allen opened the scoring in the first minute, when she beat several Hillcrest defenders on the dribble. She then took on the goalie and beat her to her left for the early score. Freshman Kelsey Haist mimicked the play ten minutes later, when she beat several defenders and also was able to find the back of the net.

Allen again found the net in the 15th minute. Not to be out-done, Haist scored her second in the 38th minute. The half finished with Nixa leading 4-0.

Hillcrest showed some resolve to open the second half. #39 for Hillcrest was able to fight her way into the Nixa 18 box and scored in the 2nd minute of the half.

The final score would give Allen her hat trick, when sophomore Jo Pavlowsky took the ball down the middle of the field and into the 18 box. She rifled a shot off the cross bar. Allen was in the right position, collected the ball and easily beat the goalie.

Final Score
Nixa 5
Hillcrest 1

The Nixa Lady Eagles gained a lopsided win against first year program, Mountain View – Birch Tree on Friday night. The game was held in Moutain View.
According to the Springfield News-Leader, the scoring was as follows:

First half
Nixa — Stephanie Allen (Lauren Hillmer)
Nixa — Lauren Hillmer (Stephanie Allen)
Nixa — Jo Pavlowsky (unassisted)
Nixa — Vicki Rische (Kelsey Haist)
Nixa — Katie Bolton (Jacklyn Finley)
Nixa — Hannah Barber (Jacklyn Finley)
Nixa — Ashlyn Robillard (unassisted)
Nixa — Halie Owen (Chelsea Cole)
Second half
Nixa — Kelsey Haist (Luce Crim)
Nixa — Kelsey Bartell (unassisted)

Ten goals from ten different players. Way to go Lady Eagles.

Final Score
Nixa 10
MVBT 0

The Nixa Lady Eagles went to Bolivar on Tuesday evening to take on the Lady Liberators. The game was unfolding in a way that seemed all too familiar to Lady Eagle fans.

Nixa controlled most of the possession and had better scoring chances during the game. However, the Lady Eagles were having trouble finishing opportunities and it appeared as though another tough loss might be in store. But, Nixa decided that they would find a way to win this time and walked away from Bolivar with just what the doctor ordered. Throughout the game, play was more physical on scoring opportunities, set pieces, and corner kicks. Something that had been lacking. The Lady Eagles now have something positive to build upon.

Freshman Kelsey Haist played much of the game at Forward. She turned in an outstanding game, hustling all over the field, and controlling the ball. Late in the second half, in the 72nd minute, she gained possession to the right of the 18 yard box. Haist then proceeded to dribble to the left, across the box, as Bolivar defenders stayed between her and the goal. When she made her way to the far left of the goal the keeper came out to challenge the play. Haist was able to beat her on the dribble and shoot the ball to the open net.

Final Score
Nixa 1
Bolivar 0

The Nixa Lady Eagles travelled to Lebanon on Friday and Saturday. Nixa played in three games and had opportunities to win all of them. Instead, the Lady Eagles were unable to score for the entire tournament and found ways to lose every game. A loser’s mentality is difficult to overcome, once it has set in for a team. The lack of scoring seems to be attributable to this mentality. Attacking runs were frequently not finished and play in the box was not aggressive enough, as the team does not seem to have an expectation of success. Hopefully, Nixa will score a few goals and turn that behavior around.

The first game on Friday was against the Camdenton Lady Lakers. Camdenton opened the scoring in the 8th minute when Stephanie Kirvan (#4) was able to get behind the defense. Nixa goalie, Kristen Miller, came out high to challenge the play but was beaten on the dribble by Kirvan. Kirvan’s shot was deflected but Megan Manzer (#3) was hustling on the play and tapped the ball into the open net.

The second and final Lady Laker goal came later in the first half when a turnover in Nixa’s defending third allowed Kirvan (#4) to rifle a shot from 30 yards, along the right wing near the side line. The shot skipped on the wet turf and fooled Miller. It bounced under her hands and into the net for the final score.
Final Score
Nixa 0
Camdenton 2

The second game on Friday was played against Belleville, IL. The game winning goal was scored early by Belleville, in the 12th minute, when #18 received a cross in the 6 yard box and was able to finish the play. The second and final goal came from Belleville’s #7 on a Penalty Kick in the 78th minute.

Final Score
Nixa 0
Belleville, IL 2

The final game of the tournament was played Saturday morning against Fulton. This game was a heartbreaker, even for a team that has grown accustomed to losing. The Lady Eagles dominated play and possession. An estimated 75% of the game’s play was in Fulton’s half of the field. Nixa could not find a way to finish a goal however, and Fulton was able to score late on a break-away to gain the 1-0 victory.

Final Score
Nixa 0
Fulton 1