​Nicholson sisters win a dog following a 9-0 victory over Raytown

by Michael Smith
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Before the season started the parents of sisters Lexi and Taylor Nicholson made their daughters a promise.
If both Lexi and Taylor Nicholson could score a goal in the same game, their mother and father said they would buy them a dog.
There were some games in which Taylor had a goal but Lexi had yet to put one in the back of the net in Grain Valley’s regular-season finale against Raytown at Moody Murray Memorial Field.
Lexi finally got one in the 25th minute when she scored on a sliding kick. Taylor scored earlier in the game and they will now get the Golden Retriever they always wanted following a 9-0 mercy-rule victory against the Blue Jays.
“We don’t know yet,” both said while laughing, when asked where they would go dog shopping.
Lexi added: “I don’t remember (the goal). I just remember sliding and it went in.”
That was the team’s plan going into the game, to try to get both of them to score. Mission accomplished.
After Lexi’s score, the Eagles bench erupted with cheers.
“Everyone wants to see them get their dog,” sophomore Isabel Lopez said. “Every time there were near the goal we were shouting ‘Do it for Cheddar!’ That’s what they want to name their dog.”
In addition to the Nicholson sisters scoring, Emma Thiessen, Annabelle Totta, Radleigh Childers, Meghan Knust and Lopez scored one goal each. Junior Kylee Bragaw led the Eagles with two scores.
The goal for the 18-4 Eagles was to work on some formations and plays that will help them in the Class 4 District 6 Tournament next week. They have the No. 1 seed and will take on Columbia Battle at 5 p.m. next Monday at Columbia Hickman High School.
“We worked on chasing a goal if we need to get one,” Grain Valley head coach Brett Lewis said. “The game plan involves more offense and we tried to get more girls on the scoreboard, so that was fun to see.”
The Eagles finished the season undefeated in Suburban White Conference action with an 8-0 league record.
“That was our goal before the beginning of the season, to win conference and make sure we go undefeated,” Lewis said. “Now it’s all about being nice and polished going into the postseason. We’re finishing well and we are defending well.”
So what does he think about the Eagles chances to win that district?
“This district is tough,” Lewis said. “There are a lot of good teams that can all compete against each other. The teams are defensively disciplined. It’s going to be a tough test for us.”

Grain Valley senior Lexi Nicholson, left Taylor Nicholson each scored a goal in Grain Valley's 9-0 win over Raytown Thursday at home. Their parents will fulfill a promise and buy a dog because both sisters scored a goal in the same game. Photo credit: Michael Smith