Sunday, November 1, 2009

Kewps Turn Up Pressure

Tigers have no answers vs. Hickman.
By Andrew Wagaman
Sunday, November 1, 2009

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SOCCER
Class 3 District 9
YESTERDAY
Hickman 7, Smith-Cotton 0
TUESDAY
Hickman at Rock Bridge,
5 p.m..
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What was Hickman goalie Chuck Wilson thinking about for most of the Class 3 District 9 quarterfinal game versus Smith-Cotton?

“Probably day-dreaming about what he was going to dress up as for Halloween tonight,” forward George Plakorus said.

Wilson had little else to do in the Kewpies’ 7-0 victory. His teammates managed to keep the ball about 80 yards away from him for nearly all 80 minutes. While doing so, they managed to take advantage of ample opportunities.

“We wanted to dominate this game from start to finish to give our guys some confidence going into Tuesday night,” Coach Adam Taylor said. “It was a good opportunity to show what we can do.”

Plakorus scored one goal and provided a perfectly placed corner kick that allowed Brian Willcox to get Hickman on the scoreboard in the third minute of the game. It was sweet redemption after being at the center of a penalty-kick collapse against Camdenton.

“I tried to fly” the corner kick “over the PK spot, far enough out where the goalie couldn’t get it,” Plakorus said. “Brian was there to head it in. It was a big confidence boost after missing that penalty kick.”

The Kewpies scored just once more in the first half, on forward Connor Hollrah’s goal, but they quarantined the action to the area in and around the Tigers’ box. There was no urgency to score, because Smith-Cotton had no chance of clearing the ball past midfield.

“I think Coach said we had 15 opportunities to score in the first half,” Plakorus said. “We just outworked them.”

It was only a matter of time before Hickman’s shots started finding the back of the net, and Colin Janicek scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Less tenacious pressure let the Tigers attack every once in a while, which, by opening up the field, created easier opportunities for the Kewpies.

“I feel we got a little lackadaisical in the second half at times,” Taylor said. “Even though the scoreboard showed differently, we played better in the first half.”

Plakorus, who scored the fifth goal in the 51st minute, felt he and his teammates had a better grasp of how to attack the Tigers after a 2-0 win over them earlier in the season.

“We knew we need to keep the ball, switch across the field and attack along the sides,” he said.

With the victory, Hickman (10-8-2) advanced to the semifinals Tuesday against top-seeded Rock Bridge. Despite all the controversy surrounding former Coach Larry Thornburg’s resignation in the middle of the season, the Kewpies have prevailed and are playing exactly how they want to be as the postseason begins.

“We’ve come together as a unit and are starting to play good soccer,” Taylor said. “We are moving the ball a lot better than previously. This is the time when we wanted to play our best soccer, and I feel like today was one of the best games we’ve played this year.”

Hickman will need to sustain its momentum against the Bruins, who beat them twice this season. More important, according to Taylor, is keeping their heads in the game. It is safe to say that Tuesday night Wilson will not be day-dreaming about Halloween.

“We need to stay disciplined,” Taylor said. “Whenever we allow goals, it is due to a mental mistake.”

This article was published on page B7 of the Sunday, November 1, 2009 edition of The Columbia Daily Tribune. Click here to Subscribe.
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Driving Directions

  • WAYNESVILLE : Take 63 South Towards Jeff City. Take US-54 W thru Osage Beach to Camdenton. Take MO Hwy 5 South to Lebanon , MO.Continue on MO Hwy 5 South to I-44 E towards Waynesville, MO. Take Exit 156, toward WAYNESVILLE/FORT LEONARD WOOD. Turn LEFT onto HIGHWAY H/I-44-BL/MO-H. Continue to follow I-44-BL.Turn RIGHT onto MO-17/W I-44-BL.1001 HISTORIC 66 W.
  • QUINCY TOURNAMENT IN QUINCY ILLINOIS: From Columbia Take 70 West to Kingdom City. Take 54 North to Mexico and then 54 east and north (54/19) to Laddonia. From Laddonia take 19 North to New London and then 61 North to Hannibal. When you get to Hannibal, you will need to take a right at the sign that says Quincy or to Illinois or to Springfield which is hwy 72 across the river. You will then pick up Highway 172 north to Quincy. In Quincy take the Broadway exit and go left.The fields we are playing on are located on State Street. The streets in Quincy that run West to East are numbered streets. The Mississippi River is to the West and the street numbers get higher the further East you go. When you enter from highway 172 the first street you will see is 48th street. Go left. At State St turn right and the park is a few blocks on the right. The Paul Dennis Complex is located on State between 36th and 48th street.
  • JEFFERSON CITY- 179 SOCCER PARK: Take 63 to Jeff City. Across the river take Hwy 50 toward Sedalia. Take the hwy 179 exit and turn right onto 179. The soccer park is about 3 miles on your left.
  • DESMET High school from CBC High school (about 3 miles): leave CBC and turn left (east) onto N Forty Dr. Turn right onto Conway Rd. Follow Conway Rd to left at S New Ballas Rd and it is about 1.2 miles to the high school at 233 N. New Ballas Rd.
  • CBC High school in St Louis: about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Take I-70 east to US40E/US61S just past Wentzville. Head toward Chesterfield/Forrest Park. About 23 miles to Mason Rd exit. Take S Mason Rd north back over the highway. Turn right on N. Forty Dr and the high school is on your left about a mile at 1850 De la Salle Dr.
  • CAMDENTON: Hwy 54 out of Jeff City to Hwy 5 in Camdenton. Turn left (east) on to Hwy 5. Continue on Hwy 5 for 5 or 6 blocks and can see the school campus on your left (north side of road). Turn on to Dare Blvd and the stadium is a block or two behind the schools.
  • SMITHTON TOURNAMENT: I-70 west to Booneville. Exit on Hwy 5 south. From Hwy 5 take Hwy 50 west. Go to Hwy W and turn south. Follow Hwy W into Smithton. Turn east on to E. Washington St. (I think this is a continuation of Hwy W), Turn right (south) on to Myrtle Ave and the school is 550 Myrtle Ave. Games are at the school.
  • ROLLA: Hwy 63 out of Jefferson City. Continue on Hwy 63 into Rolla. Turn left (east) on to 10th St. Continue on 10th St about 8 blocks to N. Cedar St. High School is at corner of N. Cedar and 10th St. Soccer field is behind the high school.