By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
For co-captain Carson Tittsworth and the Glendale Falcons, the past three months all led up to Monday night.
After Glendale’s 2023 season ended with a district semifinal loss to Nixa, snapping the Falcons’ streak of 11 district titles, Tittsworth and crew yearned for a rematch.
“This whole (school) year, I’ve been looking up to this game,” Tittsworth said. “I stayed and watched (Nixa’s) district semifinal win on Friday night. I was wanting to play (Nixa) the whole game.”
Tittsworth ensured the Falcons got their revenge – and in spectacular fashion.
Midway through the first overtime session, Tittsworth found junior midfielder Raul Vazquez for a district title-winning golden goal as Glendale beat Nixa 2-1 in the Class 4 District 5 Tournament title game at Kickapoo High School.
“The defenders pinched in, and they were expecting me to go right,” Tittsworth said. “I took a little touch left and then made a perfect ball across the face to Raul for the finish.”
The victory adds another chapter to Glendale’s rich soccer history.
The Falcons have now won 27 district championships in boys’ soccer, the most of any area school.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
“Our very first day of practice, we talked about ‘Our expectation is to play for championships,’” said Glendale coach Jeff Rogers. “That was our motivation going into this season. Every game, every practice was focused on getting to this game and then hopefully finding the result that we found tonight.”
As the game-winning play developed, Vazquez sensed his opportunity.
“It happened so quick,” Vazquez said. “I just saw Carson crossing the ball and I was like, ‘I’m tapping that in.”
One of the best teams in the country awaits Glendale in the Class 4 quarterfinal round.
Rockhurst, the three-time defending Class 4 state champions, are nationally ranked and 19-1 overall.
The Hawklets host Glendale this Saturday afternoon, with the winner moving on to the Class 4 state final four in Fenton the following weekend.
Glendale (21-2-1 overall) enters the match on a 20-game winning streak after a quiet start to its season. The 2024 Falcons could end up with the best winning percentage in program history.
“Finding that winning streak really gave us something to push for, goes as far as we can and try to be the best Glendale team there is,” Tittsworth said.
Glendale took a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute on Monday night. Falcons senior forward Isaac Chandler capitalized on a second chance rebound to give Glendale its early lead.
Nixa nearly tied the match late in the first half. Spencer Rinne won a footrace to the ball and lobbed a shot over the Glendale goalkeeper, but the ball hit the crossbar and was cleared.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME
Despite steady pressure and corner kicks from Nixa, Glendale made its slim lead hold up for the next 30 minutes of game time.
Nixa tied the match when sophomore Sergio Zaragoza Avalos struck a free ball just outside the box for the equalizer in the 69th minute.
“That’s the way these games happen,” Rogers said. “It was a beautiful shot. That opens the game up. It gave (Nixa) the go to fight back.”
Tittsworth and Vazquez didn’t permit a storybook ending for Nixa. With both teams playing on tired legs, the duo connected in the 88th minute and a wild celebration ensued.
“Tittsworth has done that his whole career,” Rogers said. “He has a knack for being able to set himself up for that shot, or just slice that ball across the face. I was glad Raul was able to get in there and put it in, because those are (difficult) shots for a goalkeeper to save.”
Nixa concludes its season at 16-9 overall. The Eagles, who finished with a winning record for the 11th straight season, were seeking their first district title since the 2020 campaign.
