First-half flurry topples Central men’s soccer team
Central College
PELLA — Monmouth College struck with a three-goal barrage in a 15-minute span that stood up for a 4-2 victory over the Central College men’s soccer team Tuesday.
For the Dutch (0-3), the scenario was all too familiar. Central held a decided advantage in shots (22-10) and corner kicks (16-4). But Monmouth held the more significant edge in shots on goal (7-4).
“Once again we significantly outshot and outcornered our opponent and, to a significant extent, controlled the game, but we find ourselves on the losing end,” coach Garry Laidlaw said.
Laidlaw pointed to the more telltale number.
“They had six shots in the first half and all of them were on target,” he said. “We had 11 shots in the first half and only two of them were on target. That’s two games in a row where we didn’t have enough shots on target.”
Monmouth broke on top in the 16th minute, but Central tied the game less than two minutes later when fortune shined on midfielder Adelmo Marchiori IV (sophomore, Carlinville, Ill.). His powerful shot was blocked by a Monmouth defender in the corner of the box, but then caromed off Marchiori over the heads of the defender and the goalkeeper.
“I’ve never seen a goal like that before,” Laidlaw said. “You see something new every year.”
Laidlaw was hopeful that would ignite a spark, but instead, Monmouth (1-1) responded with goals in the 29th and 31st minutes for a 3-1 halftime lead. The Scots stretched the margin to 4-1 in the 49th minute.
Central pulled within 4-2 in the 60th minute when midfielder Salvador Villanueva (freshman, Morris, Ill.) recorded his first goal off an assist from forward Aleksander Glavas (senior, Loves Park, Ill., Guilford HS).
Laidlaw credited Monmouth goalkeeper Luke Cogan.
“Their goalkeeper made two fantastic saves,” he said. “And we missed a gilded chance. Clearly our final touch isn’t good enough. Otherwise we controlled the game and played well in some areas.”
However after a couple of stout defensive efforts, the Dutch sustained some breakdowns on the first-half goals.
“What it came down to today were defensive lapses,” Laidlaw said. “They had two goals where we failed to put pressure on the ball at midfield, and the dominoes fell from there.
“What’s frustrating is that we defended so well the last two games. But it’s a process. We need to understand it’s a long season.”
The Dutch will benefit from a couple days of practice before hitting the road again this weekend.
“We’re in a stretch of the season where we have more matches than training sessions,” Laidlaw said. “That showed up today.
“But to be fair, (the Scots) took their goals well. They sat back and hit us on the breakaways. They counterattacked very well. That’s an area of the game we have to work on.”
The Dutch will have a chance to do that after this weekend, when they have an unusual 10-day break.
“It will be nice to have a second preseason, if you will,” Laidlaw said. “We’ll be able to work on a lot of things on the training ground.”
But first Central travels to Watertown, Wis. to take on Maranatha Baptist (Wis.), which will be playing its season opener. It’s part of a women’s-men’s doubleheader, with the men’s game starting at 4 p.m. Saturday the Dutch move on to Naperville, Ill. to meet North Central (Ill.). The traditionally formidable Cardinals are 1-1 heading into a Wednesday game with Dominican (Ill.). Saturday’s game is also part of a twinbill, with the men starting at 4:30 p.m.
