(Story by Coach Shannon Grable)
Chillicothe Hornets Soccer @ Mexico Invitational Tournament

Game 1: Chillicothe ---- 2
                  Mexico ---- 1

Game 2: Chillicothe ---- 2
                 Elsberry --- 0
Record: 7-8 overall (2-2 MEC)

     The Chillicothe Hornets Soccer program recorded it’s first ever tournament title by winning first place in the Mexico Invitational Tournament in Mexico, MO.
     In the first game against the host Mexico Bulldogs the Hornets won 2-1. The game started off well with both teams going up and down the field to create opportunities. An untimely foul committed just outside the Hornet penalty area created a free kick for the Bulldogs. The host team was able to put a shot in the upper right corner of the net to make it 1-0 Mexico ½ way through the first half.
     About 10 minutes later the Hornets were able to get a free kick of their own from the far left of the Bulldog net from about 35 yards out. Laine Saunders was able to curl the ball across the front of the Bulldog net and turn it just under the crossbar of the far post to knot the score at 1-1 with about 10 minutes left in the first half.
     After halftime the Hornets were able to apply pressure to the Bulldog defense with many attacking runs. Miles McLemore broke past the Bulldog defense and cut a shot to the far post that gave the Hornets the 2-1 lead. A solid defensive effort allowed the Hornets to keep the Bulldogs off the board for the rest of the game. Troy Toedebusch was in goal for the Hornets and put back the Bulldogs for much of the match.
     In the championship game of the tournament the Hornets produced a great defensive effort to secure a 2-0 shutout victory. In a match that would see both squads move up and down the field providing many scoring opportunities, it was the Hornets who found the back of the net. Connor Ruoff drove the ball down the right side of the field and crossed the ball in front of the Elsberry net to a running Steven Cooper who put the ball home to make it 1-0 midway through the first half. The score would stay that way the rest of the half but not without both teams hitting the crossbars of each other’s goals. Elsberry was awarded a penalty kick with about 4 minutes remaining in the half but the shot went wide of the goal to keep the score 1-0 in favor of Chillicothe.
     The second half started out with Elsberry showing a little life. The Hornet defense continued to put back shot after shot. Jimmy Chapman played an outstanding match and was rewarded with his first every shutout victory.
     Laine Saunders again found himself on the scoring end of a free kick outside the opponents penalty area. However, this time he provided the assist to Brice Griffin who deflected the shot past the stretching 6’ 5” Elsberry keeper to give the Hornets the 2-0 cushion.
     The Hornet bench really showed it’s strength in this game by substituting for the tired Hornet starters. The team showed it has many interchangeable parts that make every player an important part of this unit. With these players in the game they were able to keep the Elsberry squad out of the net and continued to provide pressure to the Elsberry defense.