Hornets Dominate Boonville, 6-0

Where are the Pirates?  Sam Mayne heads clear as (from left to right) Morgan Milligan, Nick Seelinger, and Steven Maddox look on.

Darren Jones attacks the Boonville goal as two defenders attempt to assist their keeper.

Fresh off their Camdenton Tournament championship, the Fulton Hornets traveled to Boonville on Tuesday and turned in a dominating performance against the Pirates.  While Boonville was able to limit the damage in the first half, only surrendering one goal, the Hornets peppered their opponent's goal throughout the game and exploded for five goals after the break.

The Hornets got off to a good start, scoring off a free kick in the 7th minute when Jake Pierce hammered a low shot from the edge of the box.  While the Hornets would not score again in the half, it was not for want of commitment to the attack.  The Hornets got off 14 shots in the half with nine different players recording shots.  

The second half was again one-way traffic in the direction of the Boonville goal.  Pierce scored twice more to record the hat-trick and Zach Thomas picked up two goals to lead the Hornets' offensive explosion.  In the 48th minute, Pierce dribbled to his right across the box and fired a low shot back to the far post.  Pierce then turned provider in the 54th minute when he sent a curling cross to Peter Plakorus who was alone on the doorstep for the easy tap-in to make 3-0,

With the Pirates' sails flagging, the Hornets went for the kill.  Two goals in two minutes signaled the Hornets cut-throat mentality.  Pierce completed the hat-trick when he pounced on a poor clearance at the top of the box.  His shot squirmed under the diving keeper to make the score 4-0.  A minute later Darren Jones played Zach Thomas through for a short-range shot to make the score 5-0.   Thomas added a second goal moments from time when he headed down a cross from Plakorus.  Following in, he sent the ball to the far post to finish out the scoring.

The defense performed ably and limited the Pirates to only a handful of half chances to help earn keeper Dan McClure the shutout.

In the junior varsity game, the Hornets showed some rustiness after not having played in several weeks.  The best chance of the first half belonged to the Pirates when a defensive miscommunication put a Boonville player in alone on the keeper.  Nick Heimericks did well to stand his ground and was able to tip the point-blank shot  over the bar for the corner.  In the second half, Fulton generated a number of good chances, the best coming off a Cruz Gomez shot that he scuffed wide of the post.  The game ended in a scoreless tie, keeping the Hornets unbeaten streak alive.

Fulton returns to action on Thursday night when they travel to take on Marshall.  Marshall has only lost once this season, a 0-6 loss to Rock Bridge.

Three Hornets Named to All Tournament Team

Congratulations to senior Dan McClure and juniors Jake Pierce and Morgan Milligan for being named to the Camdenton Laker Shootout All-Tournament Team.  McClure recorded the shutout against West Plains and scored against Lebanon, but really came up big against Camdenton with several fine saves as well as the game winning PK in the shootout.  Jake Pierce score once against West Plains, but saved his best game for Camdenton.  In that game, he scored twice in regulation, the first off a freekick and the second from the penalty spot.  He also scored a PK in the shootout.  As he has all season, Morgan Milligan anchored the defense and scored a glorious long-distance goal in the match against Lebanon.  He, too, scored his PK in the shootout against Camdenton.

The rest of the tournament team is as follows:

Colton Hensley, West Plains
Nick Huey, Camdenton
Gabe Kenemer, Lebanon
Dan McClure, Fulton
Murray McFarlane, Hannibal
Elliot Meyer, Hannibal
Morgan Milligan, Fulton
Jake Pierce, Fulton
Vincent Sabourin, Osage
Jeron Sinclair, Camdenton

Camdenton Tournament Champs!!!

2010 Camdenton Laker Shootout Champs

The Fulton Hornets are the 2010 Camdenton Laker Shootout champions.  Coming off a 2-0 victory over West Plains on Friday night, the Hornets took on the Camdenton Lakers and the Lebanon Yellowjackets on Saturday. In a thrilling match that saw two overtimes, the Hornets defeated the Camdenton Lakers 6-5 in penalty kicks.  In their final match, Fulton defeated Lebanon 4-0 to secure the tournament championship.

In what proved to be the tournament championship game, Fulton took on a very good Camdenton Laker squad in an epic back and forth match.  From the opening whistle, Fulton came out full of energy.  Quick passing combinations and a "first to the ball" mentality from Fulton kept the Lakers on the defensive.  Fulton's reward came in the 32nd minute when Peter Plakorus carried deep into the Camdenton penalty box.  Just before the endline, he was able to chip the keeper to provide a wide open Zach Thomas with a simple header on the back post.  Fulton's lead proved to be short-lived as four minutes later, Camdenton capitalized on a header from a free-kick to tie the game.

In the second half Camdenton had the wind to their backs and a renewed energy to their play.  A quarter of an hour into the half Camdenton took the lead off a deep run and cross to the back post.  Fulton responded well.  Minutes later Thomas was taken down just outside of the penalty box in the 62nd minute.  Jake Pierce lined up the free-kick and struck a low, hard shot around the wall into the left side of the goal to tie the match at two goals apiece with just 18 minutes remaining.  Camdenton seized the lead again just moments later when Fulton failed to deal with a loose ball in the box.  The Hornets continue to battle and were rewarded with just 7 minutes remaining when a Laker handled the ball in the box.  Pierce took the resulting penalty and powered a hard shot high into the net to knot the match (and everyone's stomachs) at 3-3.

After two sudden-death overtimes that saw few chances for either team, it came down to the dreaded penalty kicks.  With memories of Fulton's penalty kick loss to Hannibal fresh in the fan's minds, there was a fair amount of trepidation among the Fulton fans going into the shootout.  Both teams performed well from the spot, with Fulton having the slightest of advantages, namely stellar keeping from Nick Heimericks.  After getting a hand on the first Camdenton shot, he served notice that their shots had to be well taken.  This would prove decisive.  After five rounds, the score was tied 4-4 (one Fulton shot was saved, while a Camdenton player missed altogether).  The next two shooters both made their shots to keep the shootout level at 5-5.  Dan McClure then scored in the next round putting all the pressure on Camdenton.  When the next Camdenton player missed his shot, the Fulton team erupted in joyous celebration.

In the second match of the day, Fulton took on the winless Lebanon Yellowjackets.  In a match best described as a "hangover game," the Hornets turned in a listless performance.  They did take an early lead with a Sam Mayne goal in the 3rd minute.  Coming up from his position in central defense, Mayne was able to latch onto a corner from Chad Davis and drive home his shot from close range.  Fulton doubled their lead with 10 minutes left in the half when Darren Jones played a ball down the left flank to McClure.  McClure drove to goal and was just able to poke the ball past the onrushing keeper.  Despite the lead, the Hornets showed little quality.  Poor passing and poor effort across the field made the first half a tough one on the eyes.

Fulton showed a little better in the second half.  Despite tired legs, the Hornets increased their collective work rate and passed the ball slightly better than in the first.  As in the first half, they continued to pepper the Lebanon goal, but the expected onslaught failed to materialize.  Finally, in the 64th minute, Fulton scored again, when Jones centered a ball from the left and Thomas tapped in from close range.  Fulton closed out the scoring in the 69th minute with arguably the prettiest goal of the tournament.  Morgan Milligan played a free kick to Jones.  Jones took the space given to him by Lebanon pn the left and then dropped the ball back to the advancing Milligan.  Milligan struck a first time shot from 35 yards out that went left upper 90 past the outstretched arms of the keeper.

With the tournament championship, Fulton claimed its first tournament title since the 2005 Lebanon tournament.  Fulton returns to action on Tuesday when they travel to play their "home match" against Boonville in Boonville.

Fulton Opens Camdenton Tournament with Win

The Fulton Hornets avenged their earlier loss to the West Plain Zizzers by defeating them 2-0 to open the Camdenton tournament tonight.  Goals by Peter Plakorus and Jake Pierce were enough to secure the win.

The first half was all Fulton as the Zizzers struggled to get a hold of the ball.  Superb passing and energetic running kept Fulton on the front foot for most of the half.  The payoff came late in the half off a set play.  Pierce rose to meet the cross and headed on goal, which Plakorus then redirected past the keeper.  The second half saw slightly less of an advantage for Fulton, but the Hornets were able to double their lead just 4 minutes into the half.  Pierce was able to cut across the box in front of the Zizzer defense and drive a low shot past the keeper.  The Zizzers had an excellent chance midway through the half to cut into the Fulton lead, but sent their point blank shot over the crossbar.

Fulton plays a senior-laden Camdenton squad tomorrow morning at 11:00.

Fulton Tops Mexico, 1-0

A much improved Mexico team gave the Hornets a stiff challenge on Thursday night at Westminster College, but Jake Pierce's goal late in the 2nd half was enough to give Fulton the deserved victory.

The Hornets came out with a slightly new look, playing in a 4-4-2 formation.  With the extra midfielder Fulton enjoyed solid control of the midfield.  Quick passing combinations between the midfield and the back line allowed the Hornets to dominate possession, but the Hornets had difficulty translating that possession into shots on goal in the first half.  In fact, the Bulldogs had a slight advantage in shots going into the break, with only a few long distance efforts from Fulton.

The second half was a different story.  The forward line seemed to finally find its path to goal as the Hornets sprang both Nick Seelinger and Peter Plakorus for solo runs behind the defense.  Unfortunately, both hard-driven shots went high.  Meanwhile the Fulton defense continued to snuff out the Mexico attacks and keep them largely pinned deep in their own half.

Despite the clear advantage enjoyed by the Hornets, the game appeared to be headed to overtime when Fulton scored on a controversial play with 8 minutes to go.  The play began when Nick Heimericks sent a freekick deep into the Mexico penalty box.  The Mexico keeper appeared to have it but the ball came loose and Pierce was able to knock the ball over the line.  The Mexico team appeared to have a strong case for a foul, but the center ref -- after a quick consultation with his assistant -- ruled that the ball had been bobbled and upheld the goal.  Mexico's efforts to tie the game proved futile and the Hornets were able to celebrate a well-deserved -- and long overdue -- victory.

Much credit for the victory goes to the defensive line.  Morgan Milligan and Nick Heimericks played superbly in the center, especially in the second half, breaking up numerous attacks and doing well to distribute the ball to launch attack after attack.  Scott Strough, Steven Maddox, and Darren Jones also did well in patrolling the flanks and limiting the dangers to keeper Dan McClure, who was credited with his fifth shutout of the season.

The Hornets have little time to rest as they travel to the Camdenton tournament tomorrow to take on the West Plains Zizzers in their opening game at 8:00 on Friday evening.  On Saturday, the Hornets will play the host Camdenton Lakers (11:00) and the Lebanon Yellowjackets (3:00).

Fulton Drops Tough Loss to Moberly

The only thing to say is "good grief."

Fulton lost yet another heart breaker on Tuesday to the Moberly Spartans by a score of 2-0.  Despite excellent midfield play and solid defense, the Hornets' offense squandered several excellent chances to score.

Moberly went on top late in the first half when a quick counter attack found an open player on the left side of the defense.  A few quick touches to take the ball into the box and a simple finish to the far post and, voila, Fulton found itself down 1-0.  Fulton had a golden chance to level the match moments later when Jake Pierce's scoop pass found Morgan Milligan behind the Moberly defense, but he sent his shot wide of the left post.

In the second half, Fulton again had the better of play early, but Moberly was able to keep Fulton's attack at bay.  Zach Thomas and Peter Plakorus combined in the box for a weak effort by Plakorus that went just wide of the post.  A strong run from Pierce on the left hand side produced yet another chance for Fulton to tie the match, but to no avail.  On the opposite end a well worked Moberly free kick led to an even better save by Dan McClure to keep Fulton in the match.

Unfortunately, Fulton did give up that second goal on a fine shot from distance deep in the second half.  With that goal, the match was effectively over.  Despite overall good play, the Hornets failed to generate enough dangerous chances in the attacking third and Fulton was left to ponder what might have been.

Fulton will host Mexico on Thursday evening at 6:00 at Westminster.  This will be a varsity only match.

Camdenton Tournament Schedule

Here is the schedule for the Camdenton Tournament:

Friday, October 1

4:00pm Osage vs Lebanon
6:00pm Camdenton vs Hannibal 

8:00pm West Plains vs Fulton

Saturday, October 2

9:00am Lebanon vs Hannibal 

11:00am Camdenton vs Fulton
1:00pm Osage vs West Plains
3:00pm Fulton vs Lebanon
5:00pm West Plains vs Hannibal
7:00pm Camdenton vs Osage

Games will be played at Camdenton High School.