# CARDS

CARDDESC:
slide tackle in the box hand hit the ball


# COMPETITIONS

NOTES:
The 2nd home game of the season was also the Tigers 2nd Ozark Conference game of the week.  Springfield Central played a nice defensive game maintaining a clean sheet and scoring the only goal of the game in the first half.  The Varsity squad looked in control through much of the match, but struggled to find their scoring touch as serveral starters went down with injuries.  Quality opportunities were created from the outside midfeilder Riley Clemons as he continues to have a strong start to the season.  Defensively, Goalie Isaac Swanson ensured Central only scored the one goal despite several quality breakaways by Central's number 16.  Caleb Garcia had a solid second half after moving to the center back role.  The boys have additional training time before their game versus Willard next Thursday.  

The Waynesville JV had another strong showing as they move to 2-0 on the season.  The final score was 4-0 with several players scoring on the night.


NOTES:
The Waynesville boys soccer team hosted the Willard Tigers on a warm Ozark evening.  From the opening whistle Willard was aggressive on the attack playing with 3 attackers.  It took the early part of the game for Waynesville to adjust to Willards formation and quick counter attack.  Fortunately Willard was unable to capitalize on several quality opportunities.  The tide turned for the home team when freshmen Faheem Mujahid earned his first career goal in the Waynesville uniform as he placed a quality shot past the keeper with the assist from Darien Grosvenor.  The goal gave the boys some much needed confidence after struggling to find offensive rhythm in the first few games.  For the remainder of the half the Waynesville Tigers control the pace of play created several good scoring chances from playing the width of the pitch and committing to crashing the box as the ball was delivered in.  Nate Taylor added to the 1st half tally with a beautiful strike to the lower right corner as bounced around in the 18 yard box before finding his foot.  Martin Medrano, who was in top form all week during training, add a much deserved 3rd goal at the 30 min mark. Medrano tapped in a perfectly played pass from the right side by Justin Wilbur after he worked hard to keep the ball in bounds around the Willard defense.  

Waynesville continued the strong form of play in the 2nd half, but couldn’t find the final touch to add to the night’s tally.  Willard continued to work hard as they threaten on the counter attack.  With 14 minutes remaining Willard’s number 23 hit a tremendous shot from 25 yards out that rang of the bottom of the cross bar and bounced in.  Isaac Swanson continued to play superbly as he made several big saves to ensure Waynesville remained in control of the game.  The team is beginning to play to their full potential and saw good offense against a quality opponent.  Next Week will prove to be a difficult test for a maturing team as they go on the road to West Plains and Union on Monday and Tuesday, and host Camdenton Lakers on Thursday.  Hope to see a large crowd support the team as they face their Ozark rival. 



The Waynesville JV remained undefeated with a 5-0 victory over Willard JV.  The JV took control of the pitch early and prevented Willard from being a threat on the offensive half.  The team generated lots of quality chances on the night.


NOTES:
The Waynesville Boys Soccer team traveled to West Plains on what felt like a mid August heat wave.  The team got off to a fast start as Faheem Mujahid received the ball left of center and promptly dribbled past the Zizzer defense attempting to hold a high line. Mujahid finished the run with a well placed shot past the keeper to the lower right corner at the 1:25 mark.  The Tigers controlled the pitch for the first 10 minutes with West Plains looking dangerous on counters and set pieces.  West Plains took advantage of a long throw in to get the ball inside the 18 where it bounced around before their player was able to take a close range shot that beat the Tiger keeper, leveling the score at 1.  

Waynesville kept the pressure up and responded quickly with a goal 2 minutes later. Caleb Garcia beat the Zizzer's right back, dribbled the ball in the 18 yard box along the end line and passing it to a wide open Seth Cruz who tapped the ball into the net for, what would become, the game winning goal.  Garcia had a standout performance creating multiple quality chances along the endline, and ended the evening with 2 assists.  Right before half Darien Grosvenor extended the lead when his hard work challenging a 50/50 ball resulted in the keeper kicking the ball off a defender outside of the 18 yard box.  The ball landed at Grosvenor's feet who was able to quickly tap the ball past the keeper where it rolled into the net unchallenged.  

The second half started much like the first half.  As Waynesville got an early shot on goal and maintained a high tempo of play as the evening grew cooler.  West Plains continued to work hard and had multiple quality chances in the second half, one of which rang off the right post and out of play.  Isaac Swason had another steady night in goal as he worked to improve his communication with the defense. 

Mujahid tallied a brace in the second half (2nd goal) when he headed a cross from Garcia into the upper right corner of the net.  The Tigers  played an all around solid game, but will look to improve defensively with two more games this week..  The Tigers will be on the Road to Union on Tuesday and at home on Thursday against Camdenton.

The Waynesville JV tied West Plains 1-1.


NOTES:
The Waynesville Boys traveled east for a non-conference game against the Union Wildcats.  The game turned into one of the best performances of the season.  The first 10 minutes looked like a boxing match with two heavy weights trading jabs feeling out the other opponent.  Both teams fought for control in the midfield before turning  the ball over in the final third of the pitch.  Both teams took shots that never challenged either goalie.  But the tide turned as Union's Boboc, number 9, took advantage of open space as his team fed him the ball. An unmarked Boboc opened the scoring after receiving the ball to the left side of goal outside the 18 yard box cutting to the center and ripping a right footed shot to the upper right corner.  Union responded to the goal by increasing their defensive pressure and winning turnovers on the Tigers defensive half putting them on their heels.  Three minutes after the first goal Union capitalized on a corner kick as the Waynesville defense continues to struggle defending set pieces.  The ball dropped in the box uncontested to the feet of several Union players before Union's number 16 tapped the ball in for their second goal.  

With a 2-0 deficit with 20 minutes to left to play the Tigers Nate Taylor began to assert himself upon the game.  Paired with Anthony Salas the two tilted the pitch in their favor as they increased their defensive work rate which resulted in offensive counter attacks that exposed the Wildcats outside backs.   At the 28 minute mark Taylor picked the ball up outside of the 18 cut to his right and laced a shot to the upper right of the net pulling the Tigers back into the game.  With less than 4 minutes in the first half Taylor again took control of the ball down the right side, beating the outside back, and sent a hard low cross through the box to a waiting Salas who placed the shot past the Union goalie.  With the game now tied the Tigers went into half time with rejuvenated spirits as they fought through the early game struggle.  

The second half proved to be a see saw battle between two teams desperate for their next win.  Both teams fought hard to control the game and create chances. The best chance of the night came off a cross from a Salas free kick that Taylor met high in the air and headed just wide of an open net.  Riley Wright had a strong second half performance on defense controlling the back line that forced Union wide of goal preventing any clean shots. With neither team refusing to give up, the second half ended tied 2-2. 

Unfortunately, there wouldn't be a story book comeback in overtime as Union's #12 ended the game on a hard cross that he one timed to the upper right corner of the net just out of Isaac Swanson's reach.  The Tigers were deflated by the loss, but have a chance to cap the week off positively at home against a tough Ozark rival Camendton.


The Waynesville JV had another strong performace as they won 4-1, scoring two goals each half.


NOTES:
The Waynesville Tiger Soccer team traveled to Interstate 44 rivals Lebanon Yellow Jackets for tonight's game.  The Yellow Jackets have been playing well, capitalized by a big win against fellow OC rival Kickapoo last week.  

The Tigers pounced to what looked like an early goal by Riley Clemons, but the assistant Referee was standing with his flag indicating offsides on the shot.  The Tigers continued with the strong start by controlling the midfield and spreading the ball to the wings for dangerous crosses into the box.  Lebanon looked most dangerous by counter attacks as they tried to find #23 in space to have a go at the Tiger defense.  At the 10-minute mark the Tigers finally got on the score board as Darien Grosvenor fought past the left back and floating a shot over the Yellow Jacket Keeper from a sharp angle near the end line.  

Lebanon responded to the goal with a push of their own.  Increasing their work rate and pressure in the midfield.  The effort led to several corner kicks for the Jackets and a couple of quality scoring opportunities. Lebanon was rewarded at the 22 minute mark with a goal from Lebanon's #16 who finished with a header from well-placed cross from the right side of the box.

The Tigers responded by regaining their early game form after finding themselves in a tie game.  The Tigers continued to exploit the Jackets left and right flanks as the midfield trio of Joachim Hoppe, Anthony Salas, and Nate Taylor found open space to play the ball into.  Clemens had a stand out performance creating multiple scoring opportunities and working to crash the back post as he controlled the right side of midfield.  At the 34-minute mark Grosvenor tapped in his 2nd goal after Faheem Mujahid took a great left footed shot from the left of center that forced Lebanon's keeper to dive to his left to make the initial save.  The ball fell to the right side of an open net were Grosvenor tapped the ball into the net as he crashed the box on the shot from Faheem.  The final 5 minutes of the first half found both teams stretched defensively and desperate to get another goal. Several shots were sent wide, saved, or hit the crossbar when the whistle finally blew ending the half.

After making half-time adjustments, both teams played a tighter game defensively.  With the Tigers attempting to preserve the lead there were few quality attempts on goal.  They earned more corners but failed to see them materialize into anything productive.  The Tigers did a better job staying patient defensively and slowing down the Yellow Jacket counter attacks.  All of Lebanon's 2nd half shots were from outside of the box and many of them blocked before Isaac Swanson would be needed to make a save.  

The Tigers extend their lead in the 72nd minute of the game as Clemens put an exclamation point on a terrific night by scoring a goal on a long cross from near the right side touch line that drifted over the keeper and into the left corner of the net.  Lebanon was never able to mount an effective response after the Tigers 3rd goal.  While the Tigers struggled offensively the 2nd half, the defense ended the night positively with Kevin Cruz and Riley Wright completing the game with strong performances.

The Tigers are again on the road as they travel to Nixa for a non-conference matchup against one of their toughest opponents of the year.


The JV team had their best game of the year shutouting Lebanon's JV 8-0 ending the game early into the 2nd half.


