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DISTRICT SOCCER: College Heights falls to Fair Grove in title game

By:
Jason Peake

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — In the final act of the 2021 season, the College Heights Christian boys soccer team posed for photos with a newly-acquired plaque.

It just wasn’t the piece of hardware they’d hoped for. 

Top-seeded College Heights Christian with McAuley Catholic suffered a 4-0 loss to third-seeded Fair Grove in the championship game of the Class 1 District 6 tournament on Thursday at Bulldog Stadium.

With the win, Fair Grove (13-8-1) advanced to the quarterfinals to meet Laquey (10-13-1) on Nov. 13.

For the Cougars, who settled for the runner-up plaque, a stellar season came to an end.

“We came out a little nervous, but these guys fought the entire time,” College Heights coach Scott Yount said. “I’m proud of them. Just looking over Fair Grove’s roster, they’ve got several seniors and several juniors. If you look at my roster, you’re going to see lots of freshmen and lots of sophomores. It was a very young team and they gave a good showing in this tournament. And I think you’re going to see an even better showing next year.” 

College Heights went 13-5 this fall. 

“I kept calling it a miracle season,” Yount said. “Hopefully they’ll take all the things they learned about what it means to be a man. They did well. I’ve never seen a team with more unity than this one. It was painful to lose, but I know they fought like men.” 

Fair Grove scored three unanswered goals in the first half. 

Junior forward Jaxon Rowden scored twice in the opening 40 minutes, first in the fifth minute and again in the 24th minute. 

Fair Grove’s Jackson Anderson had the second goal, knocking in a rebound in the 19th minute. 

The Cougars had a number of scoring chances late in the first half, but they were unable to break through. 

Freshman midfielder Michael Parrigon’s header in front of the goal following a corner kick was just off the mark with 11 minutes left in the first half. CHC misfired on a shot on-goal two minutes later. 

In the second half, the Eagles went up 4-0 in the 47th minute on Joshua Orr’s goal. 

The Cougars had several opportunities in the second half, but the hosts could never get on the board. Sophomore striker Rolen Sanderson recorded three shots on-goal late in the match, while Parrigon had one shot on-goal.

Fair Grove goalkeeper Elijah Merillat made a number of impressive saves to earn a clean sheet. 

“We knew from watching the New Covenant game that he could be pretty good,” Yount said. “I don’t think they tested him as much as we did. He definitely showed up. A goalie can make a game.” 

College Heights junior goalie Benjamin Thomas made six saves. 

CHC with McAuley will lose three seniors to graduation—Max Sitton, Jack Meadows and Wyatt Stout. The lone senior who started on Thursday was Sitto, a midfielder.  

As Yount noted, the Cougars will return nearly their entire starting lineup next season.

“They’re going to be a little faster and a little stronger next year,” Yount said. “That’s the idea.” 

 

 

The College Heights Christian with McAuley Catholic boys soccer team poses with the district runner-up plaque on Thursday night.

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