Lady Tribe makes history with Opening Day win

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Yiota Panousis (left) pushes the ball upfield as a Paragould defender gives chase during Monday's high school girls soccer game at Indian Park. Kennett won 5-3, the first season-opening win in school history for a Kennett soccer team. [Click to enlarge]

After winning just one game last season, the Lady Indians jumped out to a big early lead and took a 5-3 win over the Paragould Lady Rams Monday evening at Indian Park.

It is the first time that a Kennett High School soccer team has started the season with a victory.

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett defenders (from left, white jerseys) Brea Riddle, Anna Grantham and Katie Briscoe battle to keep Paragould from scoring during Monday's match at Indian Park. [Click to enlarge]

"It is fantastic," Kennett coach Rick Bell said. "It is a great feeling. It's the first time we've ever started the season with a victory."

It did not take long for the Lady Tribe to get on the board. Just two minutes into the match, Yiota Panousis found the back of the net to stake Kennett to a 1-0 lead.

Less than three minutes after that, Elizabeth Hively added another goal to stretch the lead to 2-0, then Elaine Hoskins kicked it in at the eight-minute mark to put the Lady Indians up 3-0.

"Our girls all played fantastic today," said Bell. "I thought they were very strong especially that first half. Our defenders looked good. Our midfielders were challenging very actively, which was good. Our forwards were moving the ball down on attacks with precision in that first half."

After Paragould's Lindsay Yeargain added a goal to cut the lead to 3-1, the Lady Tribe answered back, pushing the lead to 4-1 on Panousis's second goal at the 28-minute mark and opening up a 5-1 lead in the 38th minute on another Hoskins goal.

The Lady Rams did not give up, getting a pair of goals from Sally Gibson in the second half to cut the lead to 5-3, but Kennett tightened up on defense in the closing minutes to preserve the win.

"We dropped an extra person back (on defense) and I think that helped," Bell said. "We were getting a little tired, I think. Being the first game, we're not in the best shape We're not in midesason form, so we are going to be working on that. But we did rise to the challenge there at the end."

The Lady Indians also got a strong game in goal from freshman Alexandra Brown, who got her first win as the Lady Tribe's keeper.

"As a freshman I was very pleased with her performance tonight," said Bell. "She, along with the team, (has) a lot to work on yet -- but I think we're going to get better as the season goes along."

Bell was pleased with his team as a whole Monday -- even when they weren't on the field.

"I was just very overall pleased with the way the team overall performed and their attitude," Bell said. "We had a number of girls come off the bench that really hepled. Our bench was very supportive tonight which I think gave the girls a lot of enthusiasm."

Kennett (1-0) is slated to host Cape Central today at 5:30 p.m. in a varsity/junior varsity doubleheader.

"We're looking forward to (today)," said Bell. "Cape should be a big challenge for us. Historically they've had very good teams and I suspect they will (today but) I think we're going into this game with a very good attitude, which I think will really help us."

Baseball
Cape Central 3, Kennett 0
At Cape Girardeau, Garrett Stevens pitched the Tigers past Kennett in the baseball season opener for both teams Monday.

Stevens struck out four and allowed one hit for the Tigers. Two other Central pitchers finished the shutout.

Alex Shell recorded a double in the win.

Austin Jackson took the tough-luck loss for the Tribe.

Holcomb 7, Delta C7 2
At Deering, the trio of Shane McElwrath, Corbin Clark and Lucas Fuller combined on a two-hitter as the Hornets won their season opener.

Clark, Chad Adams and Jeremy Nevill each had two hits for Holcomb, who hosts Twin Rivers today, weather permitting.

James Blanton took the loss for the Chargers.

Softball
Holcomb 5, Southland 2
At Holcomb, Jenna McKuin turned in a dominant performance to lead the Lady Hornets past visiting Southland.

McKuin struck out 11, walked three and allowed just two hits in going the distance. She was also 2-for-3 at the dish with a RBI double.

Holcomb (1-0) snapped a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the third inning with a three-run rally.

The SEMO News Service provided some of the information for this story.