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Kapaun's Jojo Palko and Northwest's Taylor Barbour struggle for control of the ball in the first period of Tuesday's game at Northwest. (Photo by Kelly Glasscock)
Palko delivers for Kapaun in CL showdown
BY TAYLOR ELDRIDGE
Wichita Eagle correspondent
As Kapaun Mount Carmel senior JoJo Palko walked off the field Tuesday at Northwest, she received a hug from coach Alan Shepherd.
It was well deserved after Palko finished with a hat trick in a 5-0 victory over Northwest that guaranteed the Crusaders at least a share of their fourth straight City League title. Kapaun can win the title outright with a win at South on Thursday..
"It feels amazing," Palko said. "We worked so hard and just to say we've won it every year... that's pretty amazing."
Kapaun dominated the game through a total team effort, but it was Palko that set the tone.
Sending an early message on Northwest's senior night, Palko scored four minutes into the game off a nice crossing pass from Alison Kryzer. Palko added another goal with 5:54 remaining in the first half with a sliding shot past Northwest keeper Amanda Shook.
Palko split the Grizzly defense again in the second half for her third goal of the game and a 3-0 Kapaun lead with 25 minutes left. Palko has a league-leading 28 goals on the season.
"JoJo is a special player," Shepherd said. "She's going to fight for every ball. She's going to fight for every goal she gets. She literally scratches and claws for every goal. She pretty much deserves every goal she gets."
Northwest came out strong, attacking offensively and pushing the ball forward, but Kapaun quickly established control.
"It is just a mental thing," Northwest coach Bobby Bribiesca said. "I know that we're young, we're juniors but that is no excuse. They kicked our butts today."
Changing ends at halftime, Northwest was playing with the wind the second half and had several chances to score. But Kapaun keeper Michelle McElroy was able to turn away seven shots from Northwest.
"We just came out ready to go because we knew they were going to give us a game," McElroy said. "I just played as good as I could and put it all on the line."
Playing without Erin Widrig, the backbone of the Northwest defense, the Grizzlies weren't able to stop the speedy Kapaun attack from attacking.
"We're going to learn from this game," Bribiesca said. "I learned a lot about my team. I really need to stress not just the physical part of the game, but the mental part. For me as a coach, if you're playing for a championship that should be enough to get you up."
After Palko's third goal, Kapaun added goals from Victoria Schimming and Jordyn Goseland in the second half.
And for the seniors on the Kapaun roster like Palko, the league championship streak is still intact.
"This is really special," Palko said. "I feel kind of bad it was their senior night, but we also wanted to show them what Kapaun soccer is all about."
| Kapaun (12-2, 7-0) | 2 3 -- 5 |
| Northwest (10-5, 6-1) | 0 0 -- 0 |
