By Levi Payton

sports@joplinglobe.com

WEBB CITY, Mo. — Even though the Cardinals thumped Springfield Central 8-1 in Monday night’s non-conference soccer game at Webb City High School, Cardinals coach Kevin Greer seemed to expect a little more performance from his team.

“We need to finish,” Greer said.

Greer was referring to the Cardinals taking an 8-0 lead on the Bulldogs just 10:00 into the second half and failing to find the net again the rest of the game.

“We played OK,” Greer said. “We couldn’t finish. We got enough shots on goal there in the end, but we couldn’t put them in and finish.”

Still, the Cardinals were never in danger of falling behind. The Bulldogs managed just two shots on goal during the entire game, and both attempts came very late in the second half against Webb City’s defensive reserves. The Cardinals, however, blasted 23 shots.

TJ Martin collected four goals to lead all Cardinals scorers. The senior booted goals in the 10th, 38th, 43rd and 48th minutes.

“We’re playing really well right now,” Martin said. “Most of us have played four years together, and we are playing real well together right now.”

The Cardinals led 4-0 at the half thanks to Martin’s two goals as well as single scores by Victor Hernandez and Michael Handley. Austin Doran and Manny Alfaro each found the back of the net in the second half as well.

The win leaves the Cardinals unbeaten in nine outings and continues to build their momentum heading into next week’s non-conference showdown at Cassville. That game becomes particularly important for Greer and his team as they expect the Wildcats to field the best team they have faced thus far this season.

The Cardinals’ starting defense has yielded just two goals all season, though they have been scored upon four times total.

“Obviously, our defense has been outstanding,” Greer said. “But all of our guys have got to step it up. We’ve got a stretch of some very tough games coming up. We’ve got to play at a higher level to win those games.”

The Cardinals will see Cassville twice in the next two weeks as well as other respectful competition from outside of the Southwest Conference.

“I think our guys get (fired) up against better competition,” Greer said. “I think they will get up (against Cassville). I just wish they would get up for every game.”