ANNA FALTERMEIER/The Smithville HeraldSmithville High senior Nathan Lightfoot controls the ball during the Warriors’ 2-0 victory against Staley at the Smithville Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 27. Smithville won its home tourney with a perfect 3-0 mark.
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Warriors dominant on defensive end
Smithville scores three straight shutouts to win invitational
By Scott Tittrington
Jon Reed keeps waiting for the offense to come.
Until then, the Smithville High boys soccer coach will gladly rely on his stingy defense to take care of business.
The Warriors were at their best on the backline last week during the Smithville Invitational, refusing to surrender a goal during three straight games on their way to the tournament title during the four-team event at Warrior Field.
“I thought we played, really, three solid defensive games,” Reed said. “We didn’t give up a goal the whole tournament. Really, our defense locked them down. That’s where it all starts from.”
Reed figured the tourney would be a perfect midseason test for a Smithville squad that won’t be tested often during the next three weeks while jumping back into Midland Empire Conference play.
The Warriors (11-1) opened play Thursday, Sept. 25, with a 3-0 victory against Grandview, then followed up in Saturday’s double-dip with a 3-0 shutout against Kansas City East Christian Academy and a 2-0 whitewash of new district foe Staley.
It was the perfect way to contribute to Smithville’s school pride during a busy Homecoming week.
“It was fun to be at home and be the host school. It’s more responsibility, but it’s a lot more fun,” said Reed, labeling the tournament a bonding experience. “Being able to spend the day together Saturday … to get out of it with a couple of wins makes it even more fun.”
Junior forward Kyle Nixon tallied a goal in each of the three games, while seniors Caleb Watts, Nathan Lightfoot and Corey Robinson, sophomore Austin Ellwein and freshman Ethan Hays each added solo goals.
“When teams look at our stats, they’re scared, because they don’t know who’s going to score. They don’t know who to mark,” Watts said.
“I’m feeling great about this. This year, I think we’re playing even better as a team. We’re just getting back into a rhythm, and I think we’re doing great.
“Scoring may not come as easy, but we’re controlling 85 percent of the game. You control the game, you win the game — at least that’s how I see it.”
Smithville faced another long road trip Tuesday, Sept. 30, heading to Maryville for an MEC contest, and will conclude this week with a home date Thursday, Oct. 2 against Savannah.
Warriors survive
non-league test
Smithville didn’t allow itself to suffer from a post-tournament letdown Monday, Sept. 29, but needed the full 80 minutes to hold off a physical Harrisonville squad in a 3-1 victory on the Wildcats’ home field.
Smithville junior forward Stefan Hoffman opened the scoring midway through the first half.
However, Harrisonville took advantage of a rare defensive miscue with just more than 15 minutes remaining in the second half to knot the score.
With 7:13 remaining in the game, Smithville senior Nathan Lightfoot found the net with a header, then added an insurance goal in the same manner in the final minute.
“We made a boneheaded play in the back, something we haven’t done a lot,” Reed said.
“To see Nathan come back and get two beautiful goals like that, it really lifts you a lot.”
Sports editor Scott Tittrington can be reached at 389-6632 or scotttittrington@npgco.com.
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Until then, the Smithville High boys soccer coach will gladly rely on his stingy defense to take care of business.
The Warriors were at their best on the backline last week during the Smithville Invitational, refusing to surrender a goal during three straight games on their way to the tournament title during the four-team event at Warrior Field.
“I thought we played, really, three solid defensive games,” Reed said. “We didn’t give up a goal the whole tournament. Really, our defense locked them down. That’s where it all starts from.”
Reed figured the tourney would be a perfect midseason test for a Smithville squad that won’t be tested often during the next three weeks while jumping back into Midland Empire Conference play.
The Warriors (11-1) opened play Thursday, Sept. 25, with a 3-0 victory against Grandview, then followed up in Saturday’s double-dip with a 3-0 shutout against Kansas City East Christian Academy and a 2-0 whitewash of new district foe Staley.
It was the perfect way to contribute to Smithville’s school pride during a busy Homecoming week.
“It was fun to be at home and be the host school. It’s more responsibility, but it’s a lot more fun,” said Reed, labeling the tournament a bonding experience. “Being able to spend the day together Saturday … to get out of it with a couple of wins makes it even more fun.”
Junior forward Kyle Nixon tallied a goal in each of the three games, while seniors Caleb Watts, Nathan Lightfoot and Corey Robinson, sophomore Austin Ellwein and freshman Ethan Hays each added solo goals.
“When teams look at our stats, they’re scared, because they don’t know who’s going to score. They don’t know who to mark,” Watts said.
“I’m feeling great about this. This year, I think we’re playing even better as a team. We’re just getting back into a rhythm, and I think we’re doing great.
“Scoring may not come as easy, but we’re controlling 85 percent of the game. You control the game, you win the game — at least that’s how I see it.”
Smithville faced another long road trip Tuesday, Sept. 30, heading to Maryville for an MEC contest, and will conclude this week with a home date Thursday, Oct. 2 against Savannah.
Warriors survive
non-league test
Smithville didn’t allow itself to suffer from a post-tournament letdown Monday, Sept. 29, but needed the full 80 minutes to hold off a physical Harrisonville squad in a 3-1 victory on the Wildcats’ home field.
Smithville junior forward Stefan Hoffman opened the scoring midway through the first half.
However, Harrisonville took advantage of a rare defensive miscue with just more than 15 minutes remaining in the second half to knot the score.
With 7:13 remaining in the game, Smithville senior Nathan Lightfoot found the net with a header, then added an insurance goal in the same manner in the final minute.
“We made a boneheaded play in the back, something we haven’t done a lot,” Reed said.
“To see Nathan come back and get two beautiful goals like that, it really lifts you a lot.”
Sports editor Scott Tittrington can be reached at 389-6632 or scotttittrington@npgco.com.