SK PIONEER SPORTS: WOW!!! Lady Pioneers with tough win at Home

Wow! If you have ever said girls sports are boring or soccer is boring, I seriously doubt if you would have said that after tonight’s game where the Lady Pioneers hosted the Lady Rebs from Boone County. This game featured two teams who flat out left it all out on the field. Quite frankly, I left the game feeling thankful that nobody got injured during the contest because things were not very well kept in check.

The game started like most games were both teams were getting a feel for the game. As the first half went on, you kind of had the feeling that it was going to be one of those games that ended in one of the dreaded 0-0 ties. Both teams played hard but the Lady Eers had more shots on goal, corner kicks and possession than the Rebels. The intensity of the game was definitely increasing as the game progressed. The game started getting chippy as the players got a feel for the way the game was being called. This only added to the game’s intensity. The fans in attendance also got quite vocal as the game went on.

After a yellow card was shown to one of the SK players, things got even more intense. If you weren’t there, enough said. The Lady Pioneers have a way of getting into an extra gear when emotions get high. They started flying and slidin’ to the ball. They almost started playing with too much emotion and got out of their game for just a bit. Once they got their emotions in check, they started winning several corner kicks. Boone dodged bullets but the Pioneers kept up the pressure. Finally, in the 67th minute, Jillian Russell was able to knock a ball in past the Boone keeper for the game’s only score after the ball bounced around in the box. SK kept up the pressure, especially towards the Boone keeper who got very acquainted with several Pioneer players. SK also dodged a couple of bullets as well. Another SK player was shown a card with just a few minutes to go. When I interviewed her (wink) after the game, she stated that she was told the card was for an “unnecessary fall.” Through my lens 60 yards away, it looked to me like she was pulled to the ground by her new Adidas jersey.

Give credit to Boone. They are a much improved team and are very well coached. The 9th region is shaping up to have a lot of parity this year. I will try and post a couple of pics here tomorrow. In the meantime, they have been uploaded to http://www.figsphotos.com/ With respect to the varsity action, you can get a real feel for the physicality of the game in the pictures. There are also lots of really good JV pictures.

To round out tonight’s post, somebody asked me on the way out the gate what the rules are about receiving a red card. Here are the NFHS Rules about cards. They are a little different than FIFA or NCAA Rules. For complete information, see http://www.nfhs.org/core/contentmanager/uploads/Soccer_Rules_Comparative_Study.pdf

Go to page 11 where Rule 12 is discussed:

RULE 12 Yellow Card Reasons:
Entering or leaving field w/o referee permission; persistent infringement of rules; dissent; incidental profane language; unsporting conduct (includes taunting); delays restart; encroachment on free kicks and corner kicks; Coach and bench personnel CAN be carded. (yellow or red) also use of video or communication, etc. to assist in coaching; use of tobacco at game site. Unsporting conduct includes coaching outside of box, faking injury, simulating a foul. Cautioned player must go off, if subbed for, may return at next opportunity to sub. Coach may be cautioned for team or bench misconduct that cannot be attributed to specific player Coach cautioned if player enters illegally equipped – therafter player w/ illegal equipment caution.

Red Card Reasons:
Delayed or excessive acts to focus attention on player or prohibits timely restart;, 2nd caution; violent conduct; taunting; serious foul play; hand ball to prevent goal (even if ball does not go into goal); foul against an opponent who is moving toward goal with an obvious opportunity to score; spitting at an opponent, teammate or official; using offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures; leaves bench when a fight is taking place. Coach and bench may be carded.

SK sports now sponsored by Lyndsay's friend Dr. C and Team:

Shelby "MJ" Meier returned to action after early season knee surgery and getting clearance from the guy listed above to play. This ball off of her foot went for a goal in the JV game.