Carthage, securing its second trip to the soccer semifinals, beat visiting Rolla 2-0 on Saturday in a quarterfinal match of the MSHSAA Class 2 playoffs at the Fair Acres Sports Complex.
“It was a huge win. ... a lot of fun,” Carthage coach Jacob Osborne said Sunday. “It was a total defensive effort. Rolla had been shut out only two or three times all season.
“Neither team had a lot of shots,” Osborne said. “The saves our goalie (Jose Alberto) had to make mainly were off free kicks.
“It was 0-0 at the half and that gave us momentum with the wind at our backs,” Osborne said. “We were playing into the wind that first half and our goal was to get to the half with it 0-0. We really felt good about that halftime score.”
Carthage’s first goal came at the 48-minute mark. Victor Lopez, assisted by Henry Oxlaj, snapped the scoreless tie. The Tigers then collected an own goal with about eight minutes left.
“One of our players crossed the ball and a defender, trying to clear the ball, wound up deflecting it into his goal,” Osborne said.
Osborne said the Tigers, ranked ninth in Class 2, were playing No. 4 Rolla for the first time.
“They liked to rely on their size and free kicks,” Osborne said.
Carthage, 21-8, will face seventh-ranked St. Louis Lutheran South (22-5-1) at 1 p.m. Friday in the second semifinal at Blue Springs High School. The 11 a.m. semifinal is Smithville (23-3) vs. St. Louis Dominic (20-6).
The championship on Saturday will be settled at noon. The third-place match is set for 10 a.m.
Carthage, in 2004, lost 3-1 to Affton for third place in Class 2.
Sports
November 12, 2012
Carthage soccer alive in state semifinals
- High School Sports
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Carl Junction set for Republic rematch
Globe/T. Rob Brown Carl Junction's Anissa Williams works on her headers Monday afternoon, May 20, 2013, during practice at Carl Junction's field.
- Webb City track looking for more records at state meet
- Purdy falls to Billings in Class 2 sectional
- Colgan's Misasi takes second in Kansas Class 3A
- McAuley peaking with trip to sectionals
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- Missouri Southern Sports
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Lions eliminated at regional
MSSU shortstop Thomas Wilson tags Central Missouri's Barrett Noirfalise on Friday.
- 'No one deserved to lose' Southern opener against Mavs
- Lions squeezed in 14-inning loss to Minnesota State
- Lions open regional play against top-seeded Minnesota State
- Lions qualify 12 for track nationals
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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Gorillas stay alive with 3-1 win over UCO
Matt Hicks/Special to The Globe Pittsburg State shortstop Evan Thomas turns a double play during an MIAA postseason tournament game Thursday.
- 7 Lions, 8 Gorillas names all-MIAA
- Lions qualify 12 for track nationals
- Western rebounds to end Pitt State's season
- PSU baseball prepares for another backyard battle
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Joplin's Yeoman snaps drought at Springfield Raceway
Joplin’s John Yeoman III snapped a considerable drought in stock car racing on Saturday night at Springfield Raceway.
Continued ... - Webb City track looking for more records at state meet
- Colgan's Misasi takes second in Kansas Class 3A
- Purdy falls to Billings in Class 2 sectional
- Carl Junction set for Republic rematch
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Joplin's Yeoman snaps drought at Springfield Raceway
