Ozark defies soccer critics with scoring barrage

Critics say soccer is slow-paced and lacks scoring.

The critics haven’t seen Ozark’s girls soccer team.

The Tigers put up six of their 116 goals on the season in a 6-2 win over Springfield Catholic on Thursday at Ozark High School. The sheer volume of goals is already a school record with two regular season games remaining.

Freshman Jadyn Easley leads Ozark (15-2) with 32 goals and kicked off an avalanche of scoring in the fifth minute against Catholic when she buried a centered ball from the right side.

“We knew we had to keep pushing or (Catholic) would get back,” Easley said.

The Irish got back with a pair of goals, a deflection by Maggie Temofeew and a 28-yard blast from Brinn Cooper buried to the far post in just the ninth minute of the game. Ozark returned fire with three goals in seven minutes.

“It’s everything, it really is,” Ozark coach Tom Davidson said of momentum on offense. “When we start scoring, everything starts clicking. It’s been an incredible year — just the number of goals that we’ve had and what we’ve got up front.”

Lily Axtell settled a pass from her left to right foot and fired a shot over the Irish keeper, Maya Davidson won a challenge in the box with two defenders for a goal, and Shannon Murphy made a tackle on the left wing and chipped the ball over the keeper’s head.

In just 19 of the 80 minutes of regulation, Ozark demonstrated its offensive firepower with a 4-2 lead.

“Sometimes the momentum starts flowing and good things are happening, and then it settles in after a while,” Davidson said. “You’ve got to take your opportunities when you get them. I’m proud of my girls for this.”

Springfield Catholic (13-6-1) entered the match as the No. 3-ranked Class 2 team in the Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association poll released May 5. Injuries have plagued the Irish as of late.

“Catholic is an awesome team,” Davidson said. “They are so frustrated because everybody is hurt, but they played so hard.”

Ozark re-established its scoring momentum with a pair of goals in the second half. Momentum means all to the Tigers, Easley said.

“It’s the key to winning. You have to push and push in order to get the goals, and that’s what we’re good at, speed and quickness,” Easley said.

While Easley has much to look forward to in the way of goal scoring with more than three seasons left in her career, she’d like to see the Tigers have a playoff run.

“You’re always happy about it, but that’s not the only thing you should think about. You’ve got to think about the team and how you’re doing winning-wise,” Easley said, “but scoring goals is always fun.”

A playoff run, let alone the Class 4 District 10 tournament, won’t be easy for Ozark. The Tigers play rival Nixa (10-5) on May 17, and a win would set up a district title game between the winner of Joplin (4-12) and the top-seeded host Kickapoo (15-3-2).

“We got ourselves the toughest track through it, but the flip side of that is maybe you get to the sectional game and maybe you get an easier opponent. You’ve got to beat those teams at some point in time, and we’ve got to do it in the district,” Davidson said.

If they keep up their offensive momentum and their communication, Ozark will be a postseason threat.

“I feel like we’re playing pretty good. We work well together, we know where each other are now. We’re all friends, that’s really important,” Easley said.

Ozark finishes the regular season with a pair of home games, Tuesday against Willard and Thursday against Carl Junction. Springfield Catholic has three games remaining: Monday at Carl Junction, Tuesday at home against Waynesville and Thursday at Central.