|
|
|
Not one player at Lee’s Summit North is above team rules.
With one of its leaders on the bench in the first half for being tardy to the team bus for the Broncos’ Class 3 District 14 championship game against Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit North played the Wildcats to a scoreless tie at halftime.
After the break, the teams traded goals in the 56th and 60th minutes and played through two scoreless overtime periods before Lee’s Summit North’s Michael Oakley’s decisive penalty-kick goal gave the Broncos a 5-3 shootout advantage and a 2-1 win.
Wildcats head coach Michael Palermo said his heart bled for his team. After all, Palermo said, his bunch scrapped all season long for a shot at a title.
“I felt bad for the guys,” Palermo said after his Wildcats finished 15-10. “They had a tough season. You hate to go out on a penalty kick for the second year in a row. They beat us both times this season, but we came back harder tonight and gave them a great match.”
That Oakley would be the Bronco that decided the game was the perfect sidebar to a story that began before kickoff.
“(Oakley) was late to the team bus,” Broncos head coach Tim Richardson said of sitting his junior defender for the first half. “He needs to get his life organized a little better to fulfill his team responsibilities.”
Richardson was disappointed that he had to dish out the punishment, but he was quick to credit Oakley’s resolve.
“He’s a very good player and throughout the season we have put a lot of trust in him,” Richardson said. “We sat him, he served his time in the first half and I felt it kind of hurt the team.”
Oakley wanted no part of the being tardy discussion after the game. He and teammates reveled in defeating the Wildcats 2-1 for the third time this season and the second consecutive season on penalty kicks in the district championship game.
“I was really confident when I walked up there,” Oakley said. “I knew where I was going and I didn’t second-guess myself. I was glad everyone before me made it and that gave us a lot of momentum, a lot of confidence. I just stepped up there and put it away.”
Blue Springs went ahead 1-0 on a goal from Ryan Robinson in the 56th minute. The limping, gimpy, brace on-the-knee Robinson followed his own pass to freshman Julian Ramirez with a shot past Lee’s Summit North goalkeeper Jacole Turner. Robinson’s shot came on a Turner deflection of Ramirez’ shot.
Four minutes later, Lee’s Summit North’s Shane Bowlen’s high-arcing shot – just out of the reach of Blue Springs keeper Nick Waite’s outstretched hands – tied the game at 1-1.
“It was tightly contested,” Richardson said. “Momentum swung both ways. I thought both teams had good opportunities, but we showed well on both sides. For the second year in a row it came down to PKs, and we’re fortunate to come out on top.”
Bowlen, Josh Crooks, Chad Newman and Roy Schleiden also scored in the shootout for the Broncos. Robinson, Cody Braden and Keaton McCoy converted on their penalty kicks but the Wildcats’ third shot caromed off the goalpost, opening the way for Oakley to clinch the win with the Broncos’ fifth chance.
The 16-6-1 Broncos, ranked 15th in the Missouri Soccer Coaches Association Class 3 state poll, now gear up for a sectional match Tuesday against fifth-ranked Rockhurst at Staley High School. In the meantime, Richardson hopes he doesn’t have to address any more concerns with Oakley about the team bus and tardiness.
“Kids have to learn to follow the guidelines and abide by the rules,” Richardson said. “Nobody is above the rules. That’s the way we do it. But it’s good for him. We have confidence that he’ll get it.”
CLASS 4 DISTRICT 14 FINAL SUMMARY
LEE’S SUMMIT NORTH 2, BLUE SPRINGS 1 (2OT)
(Lee’s Summit North wins 5-3 in penalty-kick shootout)
LS North Blue Springs
3 Shots on goal 6
6 Saves 3
6 Corner kicks 5
13 Fouls 11
0 Yellow cards 1
BLUE SPRINGS 0 1 0 0 (3) — 1
LS NORTH 0 1 0 0 (5) — 2
Keepers: Nick Waite, Blue Springs; Jacole Turner, Lee’s Summit North.
Scoring
Second half
BS — Ryan Robinson (unassisted), 56:00.
LSN — Shane Bowlen (unassisted), 60:00.
Penalty kicks
BS — Cody Braden, Keaton McCoy and Ryan Robinson.
LSN — Josh Crooks, Shane Bowlen, Chad Newman, Roy Schleiden and Michael Oakley.
Not one player at Lee’s Summit North is above team rules.
With one of its leaders on the bench in the first half for being tardy to the team bus for the Broncos’ Class 3 District 14 championship game against Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit North played the Wildcats to a scoreless tie at halftime.
After the break, the teams traded goals in the 56th and 60th minutes and played through two scoreless overtime periods before Lee’s Summit North’s Michael Oakley’s decisive penalty-kick goal gave the Broncos a 5-3 shootout advantage and a 2-1 win.
Wildcats head coach Michael Palermo said his heart bled for his team. After all, Palermo said, his bunch scrapped all season long for a shot at a title.
“I felt bad for the guys,” Palermo said after his Wildcats finished 15-10. “They had a tough season. You hate to go out on a penalty kick for the second year in a row. They beat us both times this season, but we came back harder tonight and gave them a great match.”
That Oakley would be the Bronco that decided the game was the perfect sidebar to a story that began before kickoff.
“(Oakley) was late to the team bus,” Broncos head coach Tim Richardson said of sitting his junior defender for the first half. “He needs to get his life organized a little better to fulfill his team responsibilities.”
Richardson was disappointed that he had to dish out the punishment, but he was quick to credit Oakley’s resolve.
“He’s a very good player and throughout the season we have put a lot of trust in him,” Richardson said. “We sat him, he served his time in the first half and I felt it kind of hurt the team.”
Oakley wanted no part of the being tardy discussion after the game. He and teammates reveled in defeating the Wildcats 2-1 for the third time this season and the second consecutive season on penalty kicks in the district championship game.
“I was really confident when I walked up there,” Oakley said. “I knew where I was going and I didn’t second-guess myself. I was glad everyone before me made it and that gave us a lot of momentum, a lot of confidence. I just stepped up there and put it away.”
Blue Springs went ahead 1-0 on a goal from Ryan Robinson in the 56th minute. The limping, gimpy, brace on-the-knee Robinson followed his own pass to freshman Julian Ramirez with a shot past Lee’s Summit North goalkeeper Jacole Turner. Robinson’s shot came on a Turner deflection of Ramirez’ shot.
Four minutes later, Lee’s Summit North’s Shane Bowlen’s high-arcing shot – just out of the reach of Blue Springs keeper Nick Waite’s outstretched hands – tied the game at 1-1.
“It was tightly contested,” Richardson said. “Momentum swung both ways. I thought both teams had good opportunities, but we showed well on both sides. For the second year in a row it came down to PKs, and we’re fortunate to come out on top.”
Bowlen, Josh Crooks, Chad Newman and Roy Schleiden also scored in the shootout for the Broncos. Robinson, Cody Braden and Keaton McCoy converted on their penalty kicks but the Wildcats’ third shot caromed off the goalpost, opening the way for Oakley to clinch the win with the Broncos’ fifth chance.
The 16-6-1 Broncos, ranked 15th in the Missouri Soccer Coaches Association Class 3 state poll, now gear up for a sectional match Tuesday against fifth-ranked Rockhurst at Staley High School. In the meantime, Richardson hopes he doesn’t have to address any more concerns with Oakley about the team bus and tardiness.
“Kids have to learn to follow the guidelines and abide by the rules,” Richardson said. “Nobody is above the rules. That’s the way we do it. But it’s good for him. We have confidence that he’ll get it.”
CLASS 4 DISTRICT 14 FINAL SUMMARY
LEE’S SUMMIT NORTH 2, BLUE SPRINGS 1 (2OT)
(Lee’s Summit North wins 5-3 in penalty-kick shootout)
LS North Blue Springs
3 Shots on goal 6
6 Saves 3
6 Corner kicks 5
13 Fouls 11
0 Yellow cards 1
BLUE SPRINGS 0 1 0 0 (3) — 1
LS NORTH 0 1 0 0 (5) — 2
Keepers: Nick Waite, Blue Springs; Jacole Turner, Lee’s Summit North.
Scoring
Second half
BS — Ryan Robinson (unassisted), 56:00.
LSN — Shane Bowlen (unassisted), 60:00.
Penalty kicks
BS — Cody Braden, Keaton McCoy and Ryan Robinson.
LSN — Josh Crooks, Shane Bowlen, Chad Newman, Roy Schleiden and Michael Oakley.
