Late first half goal helps sink Blue Springs South soccer

Blue Springs South sophomore Sarah Smedley tries pass the ball around
Ray-Pec's Kaylen Fowler during Tuesday's game at South. The Panthers
won 3-1. 

Goals scored right before halftime can be game-changers in soccer.

They can shift momentum and change the way the second half will be played. All it takes is one goal before that halftime buzzer.

The Blue Springs South girls soccer team got a first-hand look at just that Tuesday at home against Ray-Pec, as the Panthers broke a 1-all tie when they scored a goal with just 8 seconds before halftime to help propel them to a 3-1 win.

“That set us back a little bit, especially with our confidence level,” Jaguar senior defender Lexi Meyer said. “It could have been prevented.”

Added South head coach Todd Findley, “Looking back, that’s a momentum shift. We’re battling to keep it 1-1 and to give up a beautiful volley is demoralizing a bit. Instead of all that work getting us even at the half, now we have to fight that much harder (in the second half).”

Blue Springs South's Emily Griffin battles for
possession with Ray-Pec's Kenndey Doustou
during Tuesday's game. Griffin scored South's
lone goal.

South took the lead early in the game on a goal from freshman Emily Griffin in the third minute. The Jaguars did a good job of building on an early goal last week against Pembroke Hill in a 5-1 win, but the Panthers and their trio of speedy forwards wouldn’t be held down long.

They knotted the score before the midway point of the half and it appeared the teams would go into the half tied. But the Panthers quickly strung together a few nice passes, which culminated with a volley just over the head of goalkeeper Kylie Young.

“It can’t happen,” Findley said of the goal. “I thought our mark was on her (Vanessa Mann) but it wasn’t tight enough.”

Not only did the goal give Ray-Pec the lead, but also it changed the complexion of the game in the second half.

“Any goal in the first half is a setback to the second half because it dictates what goes on in the second half,” Meyer said.

Now holding the lead, the Panthers were able to put an extra defender in the back when necessary and force the Jaguars to take more chances on offense in the final 40 minutes.

“For them, if it’s 1-1 it’s a tough game and they still have to attack and that might leave their backs vulnerable,” Findley said. “Instead, they’re comfortable and it puts the pressure on us, a team that already struggles to score.”

The Panthers were able to control possession for most of the second half, as just a few times were the Jaguars able to string much of an attack together.

Blue Springs South's Jordan McNamara cuts in front of
Ray-Pec's Becca Millard for possession during
Tuesday's game.

“We talked today about playing with more confidence, taking more chances and joining the team in the attack,” Findley said. “For all the work we do in the back and the midfield we just can’t combine enough elements for more than five or six shots on goal.”

Findley was looking for his team to be more aggressive throughout Tuesday’s game, and while he saw it at times, they still did only manage six shots on goal and frequently struggled to control 50-50 balls.

“Part of it is they’re just more skilled with the ball,” Findley said of possession. “We have to get better to their level. The defense has to join the midfield to help with possession and so do the forwards.

“To me it’s (50-50 balls) a confidence issue and a mentality thing. It doesn’t take much skill to go in and challenge a girl on a header. It’s all about want. Those 50-50 balls are a mentality thing and being willing to take a chance. Against lesser opponents we’re all in their space and won’t let their backs take a break. When we’re snake-bit against a team like Ray-Pec it changes our mindset.”

The loss drops the Jaguars to 3-10 on the season and 0-6 in conference. They will look to get back on track when they host fifth-ranked Lee’s Summit North tonight at 6:30 p.m.

“I feel like our confidence level has to get up,” Meyer said. “We have the skills and the players.”