MARSHALL — The Marshall boys soccer team started strong but couldn't pull off a win on Friday night, as Sioux Falls Christian scored four straight goals led by a hat trick from Gabriel Schock to beat Marshall 4-1 in the season opener on its home field.
After the game, Marshall University coach Tony Correa said the loss to four-time defending state champion South Dakota State, which held an early lead after keeping the score tied at halftime, was a learning point for his team, adding that the game also showed growth after the Chargers beat the Tigers 6-1 last year in Sioux Falls.
“We stayed as strong as we could. I think they're just physically stronger.” Correa said. “When we take turns, we need to get used to each other. I think the message was to keep ourselves on our toes and keep the pressure on so they don't end up doing what they want to do to us.”
The Tigers gave the home fans hope just one minute into the game. After the defense cleared the ball, Moo Gay won it back in the attacking half and dribbled into a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. His shot was deflected, but teammate Jarrett Hernandez quickly recovered the ball and scored the opening goal.
“We should always know where our guys are, and everyone should know where everyone is.” Coach Correa said the Tigers had the ability to score goals. “All I'm saying is, you name it and they should have done it. They did and obviously it worked for us. Most of our game is to sit back and wait to exploit that gap and they did that perfectly. If we had continued to pass … I think we would have had more chances but it is what it is. They had good pressure and it was difficult to get the ball up.”
Just when it looked like Marshall hadn't lost any of the momentum that had propelled it to the top seed in last year's Section 2AA tournament, the Chargers stormed back. They tied the score on a deflected corner kick midway through the first half. The Shock took control of the offensive from there.
Schock opened the scoring in the 46th minute, firing a shot from just inside the penalty area into the top corner of the opposite goal for a 2-1 lead, then scored a free kick in the 50th minute, sending the ball into the bottom left corner for a 3-1 lead, before scoring his third goal in the 72nd minute to complete his hat trick.
“It may not have worked, but we made the shot.” Correa said. “Early on, we felt like we were pretty evenly matched and in control of the game, but in the second half, we ran out of gas early and just got banged up.”
The Tigers (0-1) will be looking to recapture their best form from last season today at noon when they host a Hutchinson team Marshall has never faced before.
“Tomorrow will be a big wake-up call for the players. They have two games in a row and they will be tired.” Correa said. “Again, it's going to be about stamina, trusting each other and passing the ball safely. I think that's going to go a long way. It's about maintaining that stamina the whole game and not giving up on the game plan.”