The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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October 29, 2012

Joplin opens bid for district soccer title

By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer

The Joplin High School soccer team opens its bid today for a district championship.

The Eagles, 20-2-1 under Ed Miller, are seeded No. 1 in the four-team tourney on their Junge Field and will tackle Springfield Parkview at 4:30 p.m.

The second match, an all-Springfield tussle, is second-seeded Kickapoo vs. Central.

The title match is set for 6 p.m. on Friday at Junge Field.

Joplin, which earned a share of the Ozark Conference title, is seeking a 16th shutout. Parkview was stopped 6-0 during conference play at the Joplin Athletic Complex.

Said Miller: “I’m not sure of the Parkview record. But they (the Vikings) came here (on Sept. 27) with inexperience and youth. They’ve had several matches since that time. They should be an improved team because of that experience.

“I don’t see our players taking Parkview lightly,” Miller said. “I don’t see them losing their focus. It’s a cliche, of course, but we’re taking it one match at a time.

“Our players have put a lot of effort and time into this season,” Miller said. “They still have some unfinished goals. That’s the No. 1 reason I don’t see them losing their focus. They still have something to prove.”

Joplin is coming off a 2-1 home loss against Rolla that dropped the Eagles into a tie for Ozark honors.

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