By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Sabrina Jones never seems to run out of energy.
Good thing, because the Kickapoo Lady Chiefs aren’t shy about playing the ball in her direction.
Jones – one of the rising stars in the area – had the first two goals of the match as Kickapoo defeated Glendale 4-1 on Wednesday night.
With the brace, Jones now has a team-high 34 goals on the season.
“She has a motor that doesn’t stop,” said Kickapoo coach Phil Hodge. “And then she does a good job of getting around the goal and scoring. She’s fast, has quick feet and stays on the ball.”
With the win, Kickapoo clinched its third straight outright Ozark Conference championship. The Lady Chiefs have won 29 straight conference games since losing 2-1 at Rolla on May 4, 2017.
Icing on the cake: Kickapoo has also won five straight against its south-side rival, Glendale.
Kickapoo (18-3 overall, 9-0 Ozark Conference) goes for a fourth straight district title next week.
“We knew Glendale was a really good team coming into tonight, so this just gives us more confidence (for districts and state) that we can compete with and beat anyone,” said Kickapoo sophomore Abby Bilbao.
Kickapoo struck first in the 11th minute when Bilbao set up her club teammate – Jones – for a breakaway.
“That’s kind of our play. Abby always plays me the through ball and I sprint onto them,” Jones said. “I don’t think (Glendale) was prepared for that yet, so they didn’t see it coming.”
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Jones outraced then out-muscled a pair of defenders to gain space, before slipping her shot around the Glendale goalkeeper.
“I just had to keep the (defenders) out of my mind and focus right on the (left) corner of the goal,” Jones said. “I had to make sure I got past (Glendale goalkeeper) Taylor Thompson because she’s a really good keeper. I knew she was going to come out at me.”
The through-ball-to-Jones has become a trademark play for the Lady Chiefs this season.
“It fits her strengths so much,” Hodge said. “She’s really figured those runs out. Credit to our girls for being able to get the ball through to her to make plays. For her to get those goals and make those plays, it’s been fun to watch.”
Glendale leveled the match on Reese Hertel’s goal in the 15th minute. Hertel nailed a one-timer off a deflection following a throw-in.
The tie didn’t last long as Kickapoo regained the lead in the 22nd minute. Jones capitalized on a misplayed ball along Glendale’s backline.
“I was just there, ready to jump on it,” Jones said. “You just have to be ready for (the defense) to take a bad touch and be right on that.”
The Lady Chiefs sealed the victory in the second half with a PK goal from Abby Light (61’) and a late blast from Bilbao (78’).
The four goals give Kickapoo 103 for the season.
“For players like us who have never played in a game like this, we didn’t know what to expect,” Bilbao said. “Coming out here and getting the win feels really good.”
The Lady Chiefs have reloaded since graduating a superb 2020 class – a group that never saw its full potential play out due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our senior group last year did so much for our program – so many wins and so much success,” Hodge said. “For them to not finish it off, it was hard.”
Many of those former stars – like Elle Miller, Serena Boyce and Jalyn McClean – have turned into active fans. Boyce and McClean attended Wednesday’s match at Glendale.
McClean, despite only starting two years of varsity, graduated as Kickapoo’s all-time leading goal scorer. Jones may overtake her the next two years.
“For these girls to pick up right where those 2020 seniors left off, it’s been great,” Hodge said. “It would’ve been nice to see this group get to play with that group last year.”
Glendale is the top seed for next week’s Class 3 District 10 Tournament. The Lady Falcons (15-3 overall, 8-1 OC) will play West Plains in the semifinals at 5 p.m. on May 18 at Springfield Catholic.
The Lady Chiefs are also the top seed in their district – Class 4 District 10. Kickapoo faces Waynesville in the district semifinals at 5 p.m. on May 17 at Ozark High School.
The title match for both district tournaments is May 19.
