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Lee’s Summit North couldn’t shut out Liberty again – or defeat Liberty again.
During the regular season, the Broncos defeated the defending state girls soccer champions twice, both times 1-0. But when they met Saturday at North in the Class 3 state quarterfinals, the Blue Jays snapped a 1-1 halftime deadlock with two second-half goals from Kaysie Clark to down North 3-1 and end the Broncos’ season at 19-6.
“It was (a) tough game,” said Broncos junior forward Ashley Licata, who scored North’s lone goal. “Really tough. We always love (the) competition with the Blue Jays. They’re always a great team to play. Wish we could’ve gotten the win, but we didn’t.”
The loss clearly didn’t detract from what Broncos coach Tim Richardson considered “an outstanding season for our girls.”
“The thing that impresses me the most about it is that we started strong and then went through a slump and were able to recover from that,” Richardson said. “I think we put about 10 games in a row together, so I felt like it was very successful.”
The Blue Jays (25-3) will face Springfield Glendale at 7 p.m. Friday in Fenton in the state semifinals. Anything less than another state title will be “a disappointment,” Clark said.
“We know what we’ve wanted to do all season is to get back to state – and not get back there, but win it,” she said. “So that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
The Blue Jays’ first step toward defeating the Broncos and putting themselves in position to achieve that goal was to take the opening lead in the sixth minute. According to Blue Jays coach Tom Rottjakob, senior midfielder Kelsey Goff’s finish of a crossing pass from around North’s 6-yard box was in keeping with a tactic the Blue Jays knew they would have to try: work the ball wide and serve it into the middle.
“They’ll pack it in (defensively) every game – and that’s one of the best ways of getting through,” Rottjakob said.
Licata got through Liberty’s defense and won a challenge to score the tying goal in the 38th minute.
“I don’t think the defender knew that there was somebody coming on, because she was kind of slowing down,” Licata said. “I think she thought the goalie was coming. I kind of just came up behind her and tapped it over her.”
Lee’s Summit North couldn’t shut out Liberty again – or defeat Liberty again.
During the regular season, the Broncos defeated the defending state girls soccer champions twice, both times 1-0. But when they met Saturday at North in the Class 3 state quarterfinals, the Blue Jays snapped a 1-1 halftime deadlock with two second-half goals from Kaysie Clark to down North 3-1 and end the Broncos’ season at 19-6.
“It was (a) tough game,” said Broncos junior forward Ashley Licata, who scored North’s lone goal. “Really tough. We always love (the) competition with the Blue Jays. They’re always a great team to play. Wish we could’ve gotten the win, but we didn’t.”
The loss clearly didn’t detract from what Broncos coach Tim Richardson considered “an outstanding season for our girls.”
“The thing that impresses me the most about it is that we started strong and then went through a slump and were able to recover from that,” Richardson said. “I think we put about 10 games in a row together, so I felt like it was very successful.”
The Blue Jays (25-3) will face Springfield Glendale at 7 p.m. Friday in Fenton in the state semifinals. Anything less than another state title will be “a disappointment,” Clark said.
“We know what we’ve wanted to do all season is to get back to state – and not get back there, but win it,” she said. “So that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
The Blue Jays’ first step toward defeating the Broncos and putting themselves in position to achieve that goal was to take the opening lead in the sixth minute. According to Blue Jays coach Tom Rottjakob, senior midfielder Kelsey Goff’s finish of a crossing pass from around North’s 6-yard box was in keeping with a tactic the Blue Jays knew they would have to try: work the ball wide and serve it into the middle.
“They’ll pack it in (defensively) every game – and that’s one of the best ways of getting through,” Rottjakob said.
Licata got through Liberty’s defense and won a challenge to score the tying goal in the 38th minute.
“I don’t think the defender knew that there was somebody coming on, because she was kind of slowing down,” Licata said. “I think she thought the goalie was coming. I kind of just came up behind her and tapped it over her.”
Clark gave Liberty the lead again about midway through the second half. She then put it away in the 68th minute with a ground-hugging shot that squirted away from Broncos keeper Caroline Stanley on the slick, fast turf.
“We like the turf and everything,” Richardson said. “But when it’s wet, it presents a different problem for the girls – or any player. The ball tends to skip a lot, and it demands a little bit more control and awareness, (more) anticipation because the ball’s going to move a little differently on it.”
Rottjakob felt that the shot got through not only because of the slick surface, but also because Liberty pushed players forward; thus, Stanley might not “have been able to see it right away.”
“Kaysie gets the quick shot off, lets it skip, keeps it low,” Rottjakob said. “That’s a tough ball to save.”
Clark factored in the playing surface – and the steady misting rain that helped create it – when assessing Liberty’s performance in meeting No. 3 with North.
“I think we played well under the elements,” she said. “It’s wet, and it’s bouncy.”
