Cards Fall To Osage 2-1, Season Ends

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The much anticipated semi-final District soccer game between the #2 seed Osage Indians and the #3 seed Clinton Cardinals finally happened. The stage was set, Monday, Nov. 1, on a cool rainy night at the Cooper Complex in Springfield. The Cardinals not only wanted to win this District game but wanted to prove their 6-0 loss to Osage earlier in the year was a fluke. You may remember this loss happened when the Cardinals had injuries and played the whole second half a man down after one of our key defenders received a red card.
In the first round of District play Osage beat Aurora 7-0 and the Cards beat Greenwood 4-1. I am sure some Osage fans thought Clinton would not put up much of a fight. They were wrong. With intermittent rain coming down both squads rejected attack after attack and the score remained 0-0 at the half.
With twenty six minutes left in the game Hunter Willings put the Cards up 1-0. The Cardinal defense tried to lock in but Osage is a good offensive team and they tied the game 1-1 with 14 minutes left. The tension mounted as both tired rained soaked teams battled. Osage scored with eight minutes left and made it 2-1. Even with the Cardinals attacking furiously in the last eight minutes they could not get one in the net. It was a disappointing, but well played game. The Cards proved they were a worthy club.
The Osage Indians move on to play the #1 seed Logan-Rogersville squad for the District title and the opportunity to go to the State Tournament. The Cards finished their season 13-8. Historically the Cardinals are consistent, having won 10 or more games per season the last 10 years. They are coached by Zach Adams, assisted by Jon Eversole. Well done Cards.