(Photos by Randy Hunt of R & R Photography)
The Zizzers traveled to Camdenton Tuesday for their first Ozark Conference Match of the season. Last season Camdenton defeated West Plains 10-0, ending the match after 70 minutes. Things were much different this year.
After Friday’s season opening match against Crocker, the Zizzers’ focus has been on defense. On Tuesday, the defense was much improved. Players did a better job of positioning themselves in the correct places, we were more aggressive to the ball, and we made better decisions. The Zizzers came out playing hard and never backed down from the defending Ozark Conference Champions. Camdenton was able to control possession of the ball more than West Plains, but the Zizzers’ defense was able to keep the score 0-0 at the half.
The second half saw Camdenton with a couple of early chances, but the Zizzers turned them away. Finally in the 10th minute, the Lakers found #20 breaking in front of the goal and he placed his shot past Logan Huff and into the net for a 1-0 lead. A little later the Zizzers had a free kick from about 22 yards out. Camdenton’s keeper made a nice play to push away a good Zizzer shot.
Camdenton kept pressuring the Zizzers and were able to capitalize on a mistake in back in the 21st minute. A Zizzer defender was chasing down a ball and turned over 25 yards from goal. #11 picked it up, dribbled in a scored to make it 2-0. Both teams kept playing hard until the final whistle, but there would be no more scoring. Camdenton gets the victory.
The Zizzers had a great team effort. Logan Huff did a nice job in goal. The backs, Colton Hensley, Trevor Cressman, Sean Tobeler, Zack Dixon and others, played a great game. The midfield was all over, working hard, Ethan Hunt, Logan Johnson, Emilio Navarette, Justyn Biggers, Forrest Wilson, Justin Casillas, Jonathon Hanshaw, Wyatt Staab. Forwards Devon Scott, Christian Middleton, Andrew Parks and others played well on both sides of the ball. Good job boys! Keep up the hard work!
In the JV match, things didn’t go as well. The Lakers put the Zizzers in a hole early, getting a goalin the 6th minute. Three minutes later Camdenton struck again making it 2-0 in the 9th minute. In the 11th minute, the Lakers extended their lead to 3-0. The Zizzers finally started to play a little better, but there wasn’t enough communication. In the 32nd minute, Logan Huff got the Zizzers on the board with a goal on a free kick from 19 yards out.
The second half was a little better for West Plains as they began to play together a little more. Camdenton would get the only goal of the half in the 52nd making it 4-1. That’s how things would end.
We have some things to work on just not a lot of time before we play again. Keep your heads up JV and let’s work hard in practice. We still have a long season ahead. We will get better.
