Log in

Lady Liberators continue unbeaten start

Savannah Williamson sweeps the ball past the Lady Tiger defense.
Savannah Williamson sweeps the ball past the Lady Tiger defense.
STAFF PHOTO/AIDAN MAUCK
Posted

The Lady Liberator soccer team has started the year hot, rattling off seven straight wins.

Bolivar came off a decisive 9-1 win against West Plains on Thursday, March 31, and a hard fought 3-2 victory against previously undefeated Branson in double overtime on Tuesday, March 29.

The story for the team’s 2-0 win against Willard on Monday, April 4, was defense.

In fact, defense has been the theme for the Lady Liberators throughout the spring season. They’ve held every team they've faced to two or fewer goals in their last seven games.

The team has been limiting shots on the goal, and goalkeeper Allison Butler has been cleaning up any shots that manage to get through. 

Defensively, we struggled at times, but we limited shots,” coach Steve Fast said. “Allison (Butler) made a couple of great saves, and we held on for a nice shutout win.”

As goalkeeper, Butler had five total saves in the game against Willard.

While Bolivar’s defense shined, the team's offense was also a formidable foe for Willard.

Fast praised Willard’s defense, but the duo of Claire Giglio and Mollie Stimpson proved to be too much for the Lady Tigers. 

This was a good, tough win for our team against a young and very athletic Willard team,” Fast said. “We moved the ball well against a solid defense and got several looks at the goal. Claire (Giglio) had a couple of really nice finishing shots to secure the win for us.” 

Stimpson assisted Giglio on both of the Lady Liberators’ goals on the night. 

Bolivar downs Central

Scoring came easy to Bolivar in its 7-1 victory over a talented Springfield Central team on Tuesday, April 5.

London Wilson and Giglio each tallied two goals, with Bella Mayfield, Sahara Adams and Stimpson also each scoring one.

While the Liberators had no trouble finding the goal, Fast put emphasis on the team’s  defensive performance.

“Central has a few very solid players, and I feel we defended them very well and denied them consistent attacks at the goal,” he said.  

Butler had two saves on the night. 

Lady Liberators take on Willard Tournament

In the first round matchup at the Willard Tournament on Friday, April 8, Bolivar defeated McDonald County 8-0 in a balanced scoring attack.

Wilson and Giglio each scored two goals, with Sophie Vestal, Stella Scowden, Savannah Williamson and Taygen Morgan each adding a goal. 

In the second round on Saturday, April 9, Bolivar faced their toughest game of the season in an 0-2 loss to Carthage.

While the Lady Liberators fell short of a win against the Lady Tigers, Fast was proud of their performance. 

“We lost to a very good Carthage team, but we were able to control most of the possession and scoring opportunities in that game,” he said. “We just could not get our shots to fall in this game.”

Bolivar, however, did not let this loss deter them in their next matchup.

The Lady Libs bounced back later on Saturday in a 4-1 victory over Clinton in the final game of the tournament.

“The Clinton game was right after Carthage, and our team was feeling exhausted, but we persevered through and our bench players really stepped up and gave great minutes,” Fast said.

Wilson and Giglio each had two goals in the game against Clinton.

The team took on the Parkview Lady Vikings on Tuesday, April 12. The next home game is against School of the Osage on Thursday, April 14. 

The Lady Liberators’ record was 9-1 as of press time Tuesday.


X
X