Searching for some consistency in their play, the Zizzers traveled to Springfield to take on the Glendale Falcons on Monday night. The Falcons started off strong and the Zizzers weren’t able to match them. The Falcons pounded away at the Zizzer goal, striking first in the 4th minute on a shot by Alec Martinez. Patrick Baltz would add goals in the 15th and 30th minutes to give Glendale a 3-0 halftime lead. The Zizzers lacked constant communication and were patience on defense. Offensively, the Zizzers weren’t able to get much going, in part because of Glendale’s pressure and partly because the weren’t playeing relaxed and playing together.
Things weren’t much better in the second half for West Plains. Glendale scored goals in the 43rd, 46th, 54th, 55th, and 66th minutes. You can pick out a little thing here and there that were good, but there was no consistency to the Zizzers play. We need to improve some of the little things if we want to compete with good teams. We are a work in progress and we will be better against Carthage on Thursday.
In JV action, Glendale prevailed 4-2. The Zizzers played a good first fifteen minutes. Glendale scored in the 15th minute to take a 1-0 lead. The Zizzers hit a lull after the goal and struggled the last ten minutes of the half. Glendale added goals in the 28th, 32nd, and 34th minutes for a 4-0 halftime lead. The second half saw better play from the Zizzers which led to two goals. The first came early in the second half. The Falcons passed a ball back to the defense. Lyle Craig put pressure on the ball. The defender turned and passed the ball to his goalkeeper. The goalkeeper misplayed the ball and it rolled into the net to make the score 4-1. The Zizzers woul get another goal, this one coming off a throwin. Emilio Navarrete took a throw-in and sent the ball toward the near post of the goal. A Zizzer player challenged the ball, but a Glendale player got his head on the ball and knocked it into the net to make the score 4-2. Overall it was a pretty good game for the JV. Next up will be games against Carthage on Thursday in Springfield at Cooper Soccer Complex. JV start time is 5:00pm with Varsity to follow
