By Levi Payton
sports@joplinglobe.com
The Kickapoo Chiefs came to Joplin High School Wednesday and proved why they are the No. 1 ranked team in Southwest Missouri.
Armed with a strong-footed scoring attack and a defense that swarms the ball, the Chiefs put up two quick goals and never looked back as they thumped the Eagles 5-1 in the Ozark Conference game.
Kickapoo scored twice within the first 10 minutes of the game on goals from senior captain Heath Melugin. His first goal came on a penalty kick after a tripping call. Before the Eagles knew it Melugin was sinking the ball in the back of the net once again to make it 2-0.
“I think after the PK our team let down a little bit,” Eagles coach Ed Miller said. “Up until that point I thought we were playing even with them, but they scored again real quick and I think our team had a bit of a let down at that point.”
Melugin scored again in the second half to give him the hat trick.
Joplin finally rebounded in the second period, but it was too little too late as the Eagles already trailed 4-1 at the break.
“We kind of had our eye on this game for a couple weeks,” Chiefs coach Dave Shmitz said.
Offensively, the Chiefs managed to string passes together that got them deep in JHS territory and allowed them to get several nice looks at the net.
Had Eagles keeper John McDermid not been on his toes all night, the score could have been much worse.
“I thought their keeper did a pretty good job,” Shmitz said. “We were able
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October 3, 2007
Kickapoo turns back Eagles 5-1
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
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- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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