Presley Sundy's penchant for getting to a loose ball was showcased like never before in Nixa's home-opening 4-0 triumph versus Joplin on Tuesday.
A midfielder, Sunday raced nearly half the field to scoop up the ball and proceed to fire it to teammate Zach Naugle for one of Nixa's three second-half goals.
"For him to make that run all the way down the left side and make a cross with his left foot, it was a beautiful goal," coach Evan Palmer said. "Presley ran a good 50-60 yards just like that to put the ball in *the box). He does a lot of running for us."
"I try my best to get there," Sundy said. "I'm not the best around the ball and I'm not the fastest, but I'll work harder than anyone."
For Sundy, it was a rewarding moment he could attribute to Nixa's summer conditioning.
"I took off from the 50-yard line. That's tiring," he said. "But that's what off-season is for, to build up so I can get to that ball 50-60 minutes into a game."
Palmer has been pleased to see Sundy rely on his left foot.
"His touch has gotten better and better and his left foot has gotten a lot better," Palmer said. "A year or two ago, that cross probably goes out of bounds. Now he is able to get around the ball and put it in play.
"We stress all the time to use the left foot," he added. "You've got to use the foot that the ball comes to. When it falls to you, you can't always wait until it goes to your right foot."
Naugle couldn't have been much more wide open than he was upon receiving Sundy's assist.
"I was the only one in the box," Naugle said.
He adds that wasn't by coincidence.
"I'm elusive in the sense that I can be unseen," Naugle said. "I'm good at playing in between defenders to where I'm out of reach. I'm good at hiding and not letting them know where I am."
"Zack has been a force for us up top and is hard to guard," Palmer said. "He does a good job moving off the ball. He made a lot of good runs, had a lot of great chances and finally got what he deserved with a goal."
Sundy's goal came on an assist from Lucas Green. Sundy thought the pass could have been designed for himself at the far post or teammate Corey Kemp at the near post.
"It was an amazing pass from Lucas. I think Corey heard me say, 'Leave (it)' and I had an easy tap-in," Sundy said. "I was happy to put it in the back of the net."
Nixa (2-1) also received goals from Carson Palmer and Caidon Cloud. It was a 1-0 ball game at the half.
"We thought we would break away in the first half," Evan Palmer said. "Credit to Joplin, they made it a game. In the second half, we finally converted our chances."
Up next for Nixa is an early-season home showdown with Kickapoo on Thursday.
"We're a team to fear," Sundy said. "Kickapoo better be ready because we're coming. It will be one of the best games of the year and very physical."
"It will be one of the best games of the fall," Evan Palmer said. "They're a fantastic team and so are we."
