Liberators vs West Plains, district semi-final, 2006: Bolivar was the district host that year and the #1 seed West Plains zizzers came to town with a #6 state ranking, a multitude of wins, and a swagger that was to be admired. They had been to the Final four the previous year and were looking to make that trip again. The Liberators brought their A game that night and every ounce of energy and determination they could muster. With the Liberators down 1-2 with ten minutes to go, we were pressing hard offensively looking for the tying goal. In the 70th minute (regulation game is 80 minutes for all of you who are unaware), freshman forward Matt Magana went to the Northeast corner to take a corner kick. Before taking the kick I noticed him looking up and behind him, he was being addressed by school resource officer George Janzeckovich. Matt took the corner kick, nothing developed off the kick, but the Liberators kept pressing. Two minutes later, Matt win the ball in the middle of the goal box, approx. 16 yards out and fires a shot past the diving goalkeeper. GOAL!!!!!! During the celebration I notice a finger point to the tower where officer Janzeckovich stood cheering. I later asked matt what that was all about he replied "George told me I sucked and was one of the worst players he had seen" That little boost of sarcastic support from George was all it took to keep Matt in the game and fired up. Regulation would end in a 2-2 tie. In the first overtime the Liberators kept up the offensive pressure and played very physical defensively, frustrating the Zizzers. The game would go back and forth. Bolivar was awarded a free kick, approximately 35 yards out, right in front of the Liberator bench. Senior Ryan Toombs would take the kick. He looked at me and I told him "you know what to do, get it done". Ryan sent a perfectly placed ball to the back side of the goal. The ball was met my fellow Senior Nolan West (first year player) who buried the shot. The crowd went wild....the students stormed the field....the parents stormed the field....everyone running around like crazy! We had defeated one of the best public school teams I have ever seen. It was an amazing moment in Liberator soccer history! I am looking forward to creating more memories like this one with this years team! Three days fellas till we begin our season. Get ready!!
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 20:33:10 +0000
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