After dropping a hard-fought 1-0 opener to Barstow of Kansas City on Friday, the Lady Owls need to go to penalty kicks to notch a 3-2 decision over Boonville -- a first-year program which has largely played against junior varsity competition -- in Saturday's consolation semifinal and lost to the Camdenton JV, 2-0, when a consolation trophy was at stake.
The lone goal for the Lady Knights (8-4-2) came in the final minute of the first half, when a crossing pass from junior Jewel Kawamoto was knocked into the net by sophomore Liza Freitag.
Freshmen Liz Hood and Shelby McCoy got off a pair of shots during the second half, but Marshall was unable to break through.
A penalty kick by freshman Allea Francis, for a handball in the box, allowed Boonville to score first 12 minutes into the contest. McCoy tied the match before halftime by knocking in a rebound of senior Amy Durham's corner kick, but Francis put the Lady Pirates (8-4) back on top by beating senior goalkeeper Xochitl Ruiz on a one-and-one break.
Midway through the second half, senior Paige Fifer squared matters by winning the battle for a loose ball following McCoy's free kick. After two scoreless overtime periods, the Lady Owls won the shoot-out, 2-1, by making their final shot.
It was the loss to the Camdenton JV which probably raised MHS head coach Josh Posegate's hackles. Marshall was supposed to play Sacred Heart, but the Gremlins were put into the third-place match against Barstow when Southern Boone left early.
"When they knew the were supposedly playing the 'lesser' team, they played tight and uninspired," Posegate admitted. The Lady Owls had seven shots on goal, four by junior Vicky Renderos, but couldn't break through against senior 'keeper Nichole Francisco.
The Lady Lakers only got off two attempts, but both by senior Adrianne Jones went in -- both from long range over Ruiz' head.
Shut out in two of three matches, it wasn't the kind of performance which has been typical of the improved Lady Owls (9-5-2) this season.
Marshall will be home Tuesday for an NCMC tilt with Fulton.


