Willard Tigers Soccer

After 3 hours of sleep, I am still at a loss for words.  I hope I will be more positive later today but right now its hard so parents bare with me if you will. 

I feel like these young men had something stolen from them, something they will never be able to get back – an opportunity.  An opportunity to beat a great team like Carthage for the second time; An opportunity to play in the district championship game for the first time in Class 3; An opportunity to win that district championship in Class 3; An opportunity to play in a spotlight game in Springfield against one of the traditional powers;  An opportunity to show SW Missouri how far they have brought Willard soccer.

These young men are resilient and will move on, I have no doubt,  but in 13 years of coaching soccer I have never felt sicker to my stomach from a game and a call than I do from last nights game.  They did everything that was asked of them, they did everything in the manner that was asked of them and they represented themselves, their parents and their school proudly.  They deserved better than what they got last night.  To the seniors, I am so sorry!  You were amazing and I am so proud of you.

Willard scored 7 in route to a 7-0 win over Hillcrest in the first round of the district tournament.  Goals were scored by Thad Dearman (2), Ryan Stober, Dalton Bagley, Tyler Sevon (2) and Tyler Dean.  Our next game is Tuesday evening at 6:30 against Carthage.

Our first game is at 6:30 Monday evening at Joplin High (same field we played Joplin on) against Hillcrest.  The bus will leave from the LOCKER ROOM at 4:30.  We will be wearing white.

Soccer Banquet News:

The Soccer Banquet is November 12th, 6:30 in the HS Commons!

The Athletic Booster Club will cover the $5 per player for the BBQ brisket
from Downtown BBQ.
If parents & siblings would like to eat with us, the cost will be $5 per
person. Cindy & Roxanna will be collecting the money. Please have your
money to them by Wednesday, November 4th.

Other food & drinks for the Banquet will be divided between the player’s
families by grade:

Senior – desserts
Junior – salads
Sophomore – side dishes
Freshman – drinks

After a quick trip to Joplin tonight, here is how the district tournament is seeded.

1.  Joplin

2.  Carthage

3.  Willard

4.  Neosho

5.  Central

6.  Hillcrest

Our next game will be on Monday, Nov. 2nd @6:30 vs Hillcrest.  All tournament games will be played in Joplin.

“Varsity and JV Parents – Please make sure your head count & money for the
banquet are turned in to Cindy Shikany or Roxanna Lindsey (they are in the
Press Box) by Wednesday, October 28th, since that is the last home game, if
you have any questions, call Cindy Shikany 234-4766 or 833-3838..”

“Senior parents – meeting to
plan the soccer banquet, Wednesday, October 21st, 5:30 @ McCallister. Any
questions call Cindy Shikany 234-4766 or 833-3838

The flu is really kicking in.  We had multiple starters and subs out for both games tonight so we are taking a soccer sick day Friday.  No practice.  If you are one of the ones that has the flu, please stay home and away from other players for a while.  This stuff is spreading fast and we would like to nip it right now.

Congrats to Branson on their 2-1 win at Willard this evening.  It was a hard fought game by both teams.

Due to the swamp conditions on the game field, the Varsity and jv games with Branson will be played on the practice field.  Parents, bring lawn chairs as there is only one set of small bleachers.  Varsity will play first at 4:30 followed by the jv immediately afterwards.