Ozark goalkeeper Trevor Carlton made all the right moves Wednesday in and even a bit outside the penalty box.
Carlton posted his sixth shutout on the season in the Tigers’ 3-0 victory versus Springfield Catholic.
Carlton’s handiwork consisted of a pair of diving saves, one in each half, and he beat an Irish player to win a daring race to the ball a yard or two outside the box.
“18 (yards long) is a big box, a very big box,” Carlton said. “I'm always a little iffy at the edge of the box. I know if I go out to get (the ball), I have to get it. If I don't get it, more than likely they're going to score, so I have to be sure and if I'm sure, I'll go for it.
“I always keep my head up and am trying to figure out, 'Is that ball coming in, is my defender going to get it and play it back to me or if I go get it, whether I should use my feet or hands,’” he added. “You have to get there quickly. I’ve got burned many times. This season, I've been burned only once or twice and my defenders were there to help get it out.”
“He's able to make the right decision on when to come out and when to stay,” Ozark coach Zack Owens said. “He does a good job making himself big as he comes out to get the ball. Coming off his (broken collarbone a year ago), he was a little hesitant going into those one-on-one situations. But he's gotten stronger mentally and physically. He's playing the best he has all season right now.”
Owens was relieved to see Carlton shine on ‘Senior Night.’
“He played well and it was nice to see that,” Owens said. “You never know what you're going to get out of your seniors on 'Senior Night.' They're wanting to play their best. He rose to the challenge against a great team and got himself a shutout.”
Ozark’s only other senior, Adrian Ortega, netted a goal, as did Grant Ogle and Micah Thrasher. Caleb Lepant dished out a pair of assists.
Ozark never trailed a night after needing to rally from a 3-0 deficit to win 4-3 at Joplin.
“I was definitely feeling the Joplin game this morning,” Carlton said. “My legs were stiff. It was a very intense game. We don't like back to back games, but when we have them and get two wins, it's good.”
With the temperatures dipping into the 30s and 40s this week, Carlton wasn’t temped to strap on a second pair of gloves, like some fellow ‘keepers.
“I like to have just one pair of gloves on so I have more mobility,” he said. “I don't want to be restricted by the double layer. A long time ago I wore a second pair. In the back of my mind, I'm thinking, 'Do I want warmth or risk mobility?’”
Catholic edged Ozark 3-2 in penalty kicks at the Springfield Central Tournament in September. The Irish (13-7-1) are coached by former Tigers coach Tom Davidson.
“We outshot them by 14 in our loss to them, but didn't execute in front of the goal,” Owens said. “Tonight, we had some pride riding on the line with this one. It's not often you get a second chance against a team in the same season. We're happy we got it.”
Ozark (19-4 overall and 8-0 in the COC) will host Neosho in its conference finale Tuesday. The Tigers have clinched a share of the COC championship and will take the league title outright by beating the Wildcats.
Nixa is one game back of Ozark.
“In five or six years will many people around the area remember if we share it with Nixa? Probably not, but you know who will remember? All the boys on our team, myself and the other coaches,” Owens said. “We don't want to share it. We're going to try to be selfish as far as that is concerned.”
