ANNA FALTERMEIER/The Kearney CourierKatlyn Fisher, left, makes some room for herself April 29 in Kearney during the Bulldogs’ 10-0 blowout of Grandview.
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Soccer coaches vote Kearney as No. 2 district seed
By Chris Geinosky
Not the best overall record in the field or a nine-match winning streak proved to be enough for the Kearney High girls soccer team to receive a top district seed.
The Bulldogs (15-3 coming into the week) had to settle for the No. 2 spot in next week’s Class 1 District 13 tournament in Excelsior Springs.
“It would be nice to get that No. 1 seed and the easy route to the championship game, but is that going to prepare you for a tough final? Probably not,” Kearney coach Jackie Haller said. “If we want to win the district, we’re going to have to win three games no matter what, so we may as well play the tough teams and earn it.
“I’m just glad we didn’t get the No. 3 seed. If that had happened, I would have really been upset.”
Haller’s displeasure is easy to understand. Despite the fact her team owned the best win-loss mark among the district teams as of the seed meeting, Kearney received just enough votes to hang on to the No. 2 seed.
The reason that holds so much significance is one less vote could have left the Bulldogs with a first-round matchup against Excelsior Springs, a team Kearney has already played three times this season.
Luckily, that didn’t happen, and the Bulldogs will take on No. 7 Sacred Heart at 8 p.m. Monday, May 12, in the opening round. Excelsior Springs, the No. 6 seed, gets No. 3 Warrensburg (13-7).
On the other side of the bracket, No. 4 Marshall takes on No. 5 St. Paul Lutheran. Smithville (15-4) received the No. 1 seed and drew Stover, a first-year soccer program.
“Maybe this will motivate the girls a little bit,” Haller said. “I don’t think we got the respect we deserved, but that’s OK. We just have to prove it.”
The tournament semifinals are scheduled for Tuesday, May 13. Kearney would play the second game at 6:30 p.m. The championship game is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 15.
Sports writer Chris Geinosky can be reached at 389-6654 or cgeinosky@npgco.com.
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The Bulldogs (15-3 coming into the week) had to settle for the No. 2 spot in next week’s Class 1 District 13 tournament in Excelsior Springs.
“It would be nice to get that No. 1 seed and the easy route to the championship game, but is that going to prepare you for a tough final? Probably not,” Kearney coach Jackie Haller said. “If we want to win the district, we’re going to have to win three games no matter what, so we may as well play the tough teams and earn it.
“I’m just glad we didn’t get the No. 3 seed. If that had happened, I would have really been upset.”
Haller’s displeasure is easy to understand. Despite the fact her team owned the best win-loss mark among the district teams as of the seed meeting, Kearney received just enough votes to hang on to the No. 2 seed.
The reason that holds so much significance is one less vote could have left the Bulldogs with a first-round matchup against Excelsior Springs, a team Kearney has already played three times this season.
Luckily, that didn’t happen, and the Bulldogs will take on No. 7 Sacred Heart at 8 p.m. Monday, May 12, in the opening round. Excelsior Springs, the No. 6 seed, gets No. 3 Warrensburg (13-7).
On the other side of the bracket, No. 4 Marshall takes on No. 5 St. Paul Lutheran. Smithville (15-4) received the No. 1 seed and drew Stover, a first-year soccer program.
“Maybe this will motivate the girls a little bit,” Haller said. “I don’t think we got the respect we deserved, but that’s OK. We just have to prove it.”
The tournament semifinals are scheduled for Tuesday, May 13. Kearney would play the second game at 6:30 p.m. The championship game is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 15.
Sports writer Chris Geinosky can be reached at 389-6654 or cgeinosky@npgco.com.