Alicia Collard and Erica Hogan scored two goals each to lead the Ozark Lady Tigers to a 5-0 victory over Neosho in the opening round of the Christian County Tournament.

Neosho would bounce back from the loss on the first day of the two-day event to post two wins, including one over rival Joplin, to claim fifth place in the tournament.

In the first game, Hogan scored both of her goals in the first half, with both goals being assisted by Collard.

In the second half, Collard scored the first two goals of the half, both coming on assists from Megan Gunnels.

Taylor Jordan scored on a pass from Danielle Poivre to account for the final goal for the Lady Tigers (6-1).

Neosho had 10 shots on goal in the game, while Ashley Bartkoski finished with 18 saves.

Neosho vs. Joplin.

Playing archrival Joplin for the second time this week, Neosho pulled off perhaps its biggest win all season.

Knotting a 1-1 after regulation, Shelby Murray scored 24 seconds into overtime and lifted the Lady Wildcats to the win.

Perhaps most unique was the fact Neosho had no idea who they were playing when they left at 6:30 a.m. Saturday to head to Ozark High School.

“When we saw the Joplin bus pull up, we were ready for them,” said Neosho coach Laura Schisler. “We have played them twice and we knew who their go-to players were and we just wanted it today.”

Joplin defeated Neosho 3-0 this past Monday and won by an identical score in the Neosho Tournament in late March.

Stephanie Wilson scored the first goal of the game for Neosho, netting it at the 37:18 mark. Joplin’s Rachel Lazenby tied the game at 1-1 in the 39th minute, making it a tie game at halftime.

Both teams were shutout in the second half, forcing overtime.

“We dominated the second half,” Schisler stated.

Neosho finished with 17 shots on goal in regulation and 18 for the game. Bartkoski had 11 saves.

“I guess we just needed a little extra time,” said Schisler. “Maybe this was the start of something good. The third time was the charm. We just played with more heart. We beat them to every ball. (The girls) just wanted it more today (than Joplin).”

Neosho vs. Bolivar

Facing future Central Ozark Conference foe Bolivar, Neosho netted a 2-1 victory in the fifth place game of the tournament.

Despite playing the entire game in a mix of snow and sleet, the Lady Wildcats came through in the second half with a pair of goals.

Neosho had six shots on goal, but connected on two of them in the final 20 minutes of the game to pull out the victory.

At the 63rd minute mark of the game, Murray scored. Wilson then added her second goal of the tournament, netting a goal with three minutes left.

The Lady Liberators’ lone goal came in the 79th minute, making it 2-1.

The Lady Wildcats (5-6) played both games Saturday without two key players on defense. Rachel Stuart was injured in Friday’s game against Ozark and missed both games Saturday with a knee injury. Tori Wood was also gone, as she was taking the ACT test. Schisler bumped Brittany Copeland and Shayale Derryberry up to starting roles and the duo responded, while Sarah Hoagland was moved to stopper, Stuart’s position.

Neosho has a busy week ahead, playing four games in five days and will have played seven games in a one-week span come Friday.

The Lady Wildcats play Monday at Springfield Kickapoo and Tuesday at Springfield Catholic.