(Not the highest quality photo – It was taken with a phone in the Harrison Practice Facility after the Siloam Springs Game)
The Lady Zizzer Soccer Team opened the 2010 season Saturday in the ReMax Cup hosted by the Harrison (AR) Lady Goblins. The games were played on the turf at the beautiful F.S. Garrison Stadium. With temperatures around 40 degrees and a slight wind, the Lady Zizzers took on the Siloam Springs Panthers.
After warming up in the Cash Center (The indoor practice facility next to the field – It has turf too). The Lady Zizzers came out hard and moved the ball well on the smooth turf surface. West Plains created some early chances, but weren’t able to capitalize until the 24th minute. Tasha Ugbah received the ball about 35 yards from goal, dribbled, beat a defender and fired a shot past the keeper from 15 yards out for a 1-0 lead.
Ugbah would score again in the 30th minute. Katie Shannon had the ball on the left side and sent a pass into the 18 yard box. Ugbah touched the ball around a defender and netted her second goal of the game. The Lady Zizzers would take the 2-0 into half.
The Panthers came out a little stronger to start the second half. Panther forward Ashley Cowan was able to create a couple of chances, but the Lady Zizzers were able to keep the Panthers off the Scoreboard. The final goal of the game would come in the 26th minute of the 2nd half, Katie Shannon and Tasha Ugbah would team up again. This time it would be Ugbah who carried the ball down the right side, then sent a cross into the box for Shannon. Katie received the ball, turned and fired a left footed shot over the keeper from 10 yards out. Final score West Plains 3, Siloam Springs 0.
Opening the season with a win and a shutout was great. All 19 Lady Zizzer players who dressed for the game got some playing time. It was a good first game. The Lady Zizzers advanced to the ReMax Cup Championship Game against the Little Rock Christian Warriors who defeated the host Harrison Lady Goblins in PKs 5-4 after playing to a 1-1 Tie in regulation time.
Icy conditions in Siloam Springs forced the Siloam springs Boys and Girls Teams to return home. Cancelling 1 Boys game and the 3rd Place Girls game. As a result, the Girls Championship Game got started about an hour early. By Kickoff (around 4:00pm), temperatures had dropped a couple degrees and the rain had moved in. It was a steady rain, a hard rain at times, but not the worst conditions we have played in.
The Lady Zizzers opened the scoring in the Championship game with a familiar combination. Katie Shannon sent a ball to the left to Tasha Ugbah. Tasha carried the ball toward goal and sent a ball across the goal to a streaking Katie Shannon who knocked the ball in for a 1-0 lead in the 6th minute of play. things went down hill from there for West Plains.
Little Rock Christian picked up their level of play and knocked the ball around very nicely. The Lady Zizzers got caught chasing balls at times and were caught flat footed on defense at other times. #17 for Warriors, tied the game with a shot near the back post in the 10th minute after a teammate sent a ball across the front of the goal. The Warriors # 14 would get the eventual game winner in the 20th minute after beating a couple of Lady Zizzers and sending a shot past Sammi Phegley. A minute later, #16 would receive a pass inside the box and fired a shot into the net for a 3-1 lead. That would be the score at the half.
West Plains would get a little more going offensively in the second half, but couldn’t a put anything in the net. Desi Prantl came the closest to scoring for the Lady Zizzers. Prantl took a pass from Tasha Ugbah and sent a shot inside the near post, but she was offside on the play. The Warriors would add their final goal in the 9th minute of the half. #16 would score her second goal of the game to make the score 4-1. That’s how things would end.
The Lady Zizzers didn’t play as well in the second game, in part because they were facing a better opponent and part because they were communicate and work together as well as they had in the first game. Overall, it was a good trip. The Lady Zizzers scored 4 Goals, posted a win and a shutout, and brought home a Second Place Trophy. All 19 players saw action in both games and we now have a better idea of what areas need to improve.
Thanks go out to Harrison Coach Chris Pratt and his staff for the great hospitality and for putting on a First Class Tournament. Up next for the Lady Zizzers is the Home Opener on Wednesday. Coach Pratt brings his Lady Goblins to West Plains. There will only be a Varsity Game and it will kickoff at 5:00pm. Come out and show your support.
