MHS soccer: Moberly's hex on Owls continues

Junior Jacob Phillips had stopped 17 straight shots, but his bid for a third straight shutout got away on Moberly's last attempt during the Owls' 1-0 loss. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The high-scoring Owls have been shut out only three times this season, all by Moberly -- which won the fourth and final meeting, all decided by one goal, with a 1-0 decision Tuesday in the semifinal round of the Class 2, District 7 Tournament at Moberly.

"For whatever reason, they have our number," remarked Marshall head coach Josh Posegate. "We're very even, but we can't get over the hump and score the goal."

The Owls had very few chances against the club with which they shared their first NCMC championship. The Spartans didn't allow a shot on goal during the first half, but had a couple of opportunities of their own.

A 35-yard free kick by senior Grayden Pretz was redirected by sophomore Ethan Roth's header in front of the net in the 11th minute, but senior Josh Toliver cleared the ball.

Later in the period, sophomore Logan Turk came up with a steal in Marshall's end, but Toliver didn't see him. As junior goalkeeper Jacob Phillips rushed out to cut down the angle, Turk fired from outside the penalty box and missed to the left.

With barely three minutes remaining in the half, Moberly nearly cashed in when sophomore Lane Pritchard intercepted senior Marvin Alvarez' pass. Phillips dove to block the shot, but the rebound came out to senior Kyle Patrick. Fortunately for the Owls, Alvarez was in position to make the stop and booted the ball out of bounds.

On the ensuing corner kick, sophomore Austin Weis got a foot on the ball when it went to the far side of the net, but Phillips spun and smothered it.

Marshall had a promising start to the second half, with sophomore Erik Moreño and junior Ebert Alvarez executing a give-and-go on the right wing. Alvarez, though, was too deep when he put a drive on the net and junior Caleb Marquis didn't have to move for the save.

Marquis did have to sprawl midway through the half when Alvarez got off a 20-yarder, but collected the ball surely. The rest of the Owls' 13 shot attempts were off the mark and often from long range.

"That's been a problem for us all season against the better teams," Posegate said of his squad's hurried shots. "The decision-making in the final one-third of the field did us in at times."

If Marshall's attackers felt rushed, the reason was the tight marking by the Spartans' defense -- which even included some grabbing, seldom called by an officiating crew which also missed a dust-up on the Owls' end until after junior Britton Ellison roughed up junior sweeper José Reyes.

"I don't think the physicality of it effected us too much," Posegate said. "That's the way they play. We know that and expect that."

The shot that finally found the mark seemed innocent enough. Roth was outside the upper left-hand side of the box, but he blasted a liner which was high and slightly to the right of Phillips, but under the crossbar, with 13:45 left in the match.

That was Moberly's last shot, but it would be enough. Marshall pressed the attack, but open shots from 20 yards or more were missed by junior Omar Farfan and Alvarez. The last try was junior Jon Najera's 28-yard free kick with 15 seconds to go, the ball glancing the outer part of the goal post on the far side of the net.

While the Spartans (21-5) advance to take on defending champion Helias in Thursday's championship match, the Owls (19-5) see their most successful season since 2003 -- the last time they reached the playoffs -- come to an earlier end than hoped.

"That will be a lot of fuel for our fire next year," Posegate declared.