EXCELSIOR SPRINGS -- St. Paul Lutheran of Concordia hadn't scored against the Marshall girls' soccer team in two previous meetings this season, but finally broke through when it counted Monday.

The Lady Saints got a goal in each half to claim a 2-0 decision over the Birds in the first round of the Class 1, District 13 Tournament at Excelsior Springs. In their prior matches, the Lady Owls had notched a 2-0 home victory and finished in a scoreless tie at the Smith-Cotton Tournament.

St. Paul tallied in the 11th minute of the first half when senior Esther Johnson knocked in a rebound after Marshall senior goalkeeper Xochitl Ruiz had stopped senior Jessica Mourey's shot. The Saints got some insurance midway through the second half on junior Marianne Stensland's lofting kick over Ruiz' head.

That was all St. Paul needed, since the Lady Owls only managed one shot on goal during the match, that by senior Paige Fifer in the first half.

"Our lack of attack hurt us in the end," admitted MHS head coach Josh Posegate. "We couldn't get any offense going through the midfield to the forward the entire game."

The Saints (13-6-1) have the unenviable task of facing the No. 1 seed -- 14th-ranked Smithville, an 11-0 winner over Stover -- in today's semifinal round.

After going into the season on a 44-match winless streak, Marshall (12-8-2) reeled off six straight wins and had their highest victory total since its only playoff season in '99 -- finishing second in the NCMC, its best showing ever.

"The girls worked hard to achieve the big turnaround that we had," said Posegate, who will guide the Owls during the fall boys' campaign. "We are going to miss our big senior class, but we feel they have laid a foundation for the program to build off of."