SPRINGFIELD — To say the Kickapoo (1-2) and Nixa (2-2) boys' soccer programs know one another would be a vast understatement.

In fact, it wouldn't do these two historic teams justice.

After all, the two met up at last year's Class 4 District 10 semifinals game, when the Chiefs grounded the Eagles, 6-2.

The high-octane rivalry lived up to the billing once more, but this time, it was the Eagles came away with the 2-1 win in penalty kicks Thursday evening. The Eagles won penalty kicks 4-2.

The Chiefs officially opened their newly remodeled Jose Florez Field on Thursday.

The Eagles found themselves in an early 1-0 hole in the 18th minute of play, so to pull off the win speaks volumes on the grit and determination of the Eagles.

"It is a great test for us. Kickapoo is a great team," Nixa head coach Evan Palmer said. "We had to catch up with their speed of play and figure out what they were doing. When we did that, guys played really well. We still have to work on possession and finding the right guy at the right time."

Offensive possession emulated a teeter-totter, with touches and passing lanes being owned early by the Chiefs, but in the second half, that teeter-totter favored the Eagles, as Nixa found its groove and even had two shots on goal in the waning minutes of regulation.

"The grit these guys showed to come back, the grit they showed to hang in there — a couple times when it got past our centerbacks, [they were] able to catch up to them and make them miss the shot. That is the stuff that builds for the future. It shows how much heart this team has," Palmer said.

During the penalty kick shootout and the score knotted up, 1-1, the Eagles' Carson Beets capitalized first.

Brock Nelson, Andrew Anello, and Bryce Richmond all followed suit and found the net.

The Eagles field six seniors and four juniors this fall, but it's the blend of veterans and newcomers that's made waves so far during the early going.

"They have been big brothers to these guys," Palmer said of the seniors. "We have a bunch of freshmen who are playing. We have some sophomores and juniors thrown into the mix, and these guys have done a great job of bringing them up to speed. Helping them realize what it takes to play varsity soccer. It has been a work in progress, but the kids we have are very talented young men. That core group (seniors) has been incredible."

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For game photos, click here.