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Dragons torch Bobcats in semifinal

Ninth-ranked Johnston jolts Marshalltown in first half of 8-0 postseason showdown

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE - Marshalltown senior Emma Lizarde, left, leaps to gain possession of the ball in front of Johnston’s Mikayla Gibson (6) during the first half of Wednesday’s Class 3A Region 2 semifinal at Johnston Stadium. The ninth-ranked host Dragons won 8-0.

JOHNSTON — The idea of an upset victory evaporated by the time the ninth-ranked Dragons had scored more goals in the game than the Bobcats had the entire season.

Moral victories were all the Marshalltown girls soccer team had to revel in, and even those were fleeting.

Katherine Chapman scored three-straight goals and finished with 10 points to lead Johnston past Marshalltown for an 8-0 win in Wednesday’s Class 3A Region 2 semifinal at Johnston Stadium.

The Bobcats (1-13) suffered their eighth consecutive loss to close the spring campaign, collecting just two goals along the way. Johnston (5-4) needed only 11 minutes, 5 seconds to exceed that total and eventually advanced to Monday’s regional finals at No. 5 Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln (15-2).

“In the first half the girls didn’t have their heads in it, they didn’t want to be here tonight,” said MHS head coach Leigh Hornbuckle. “The girls have been focusing on the boys, and I think they wrote off the season about three games ago. I wish they wouldn’t have, there’s a lot of heart on this team and we’re losing some really good seniors who will leave some holes to fill.”

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE - Marshalltown junior Marilyn Gonzalez (18) clears a corner kick out of the box as goalkeeper Avygail Smith and Johnston’s Ashley Faber (5) look on during the second half of Wednesday’s match.

On this night, Johnston occupied the offensive half of the field for more than 75 percent of the match and eventually racked up 35 shot attempts, 21 of which made it on goal.

The Dragons scored seven times on 10 shots on goal in the first half, holding MHS junior goalkeeper Avygail Smith without a save for the first 17 minutes, 48 seconds. By that time the Johnston advantage had already ballooned to 6-0.

Chapman scored three of her four goals and had two assists in the first half, while Maya McDermott scored twice and assisted once in only playing the first half. Ashley Faber and Mikayla Gibson added goals for the Dragons, while Mackenzie Bryan, Nevada Voss and Hannah Bruene each tallied one assist.

“The moral victory is getting outscored 7-0 in the first half and in the second half we kept them to one goal — I’ll take that,” said Hornbuckle. “The girls thought three minutes into the second half we were going to get 10-pointed, going to get mercy-ruled and we didn’t.

“They took out most of their starters but you could tell they were getting irritated they weren’t getting the shots like they were getting in the first half.”

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE

Johnston scored goals on five of its first eight shot attempts, slicing up the Bobcat defense for the Dragons’ second-highest scoring total this season. The eight goals marked the ninth time Marshalltown surrendered four goals or more in its 13 defeats.

“Shots on goal was our goal, not getting mercy-ruled in the second half and it happened — little moral victories,” Hornbuckle added. “It’s not how we wanted the season to end but I’m proud of them, they didn’t give up and they’ll be missed. The girls gave their all but it just wasn’t enough, but they didn’t quit.”

The Bobcats ended the match without a single shot attempt.

“The seniors are the heart of the team,” Hornbuckle said. “It’ll be sad without them next year, that’s for sure.

“We’ve got some stuff coming up but we’ve got some fine-tuning to do. We definitely have the talent, but the work-ethic just isn’t where it has been.”

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE

Wednesday’s loss marked the finales for MHS seniors Isabel Ibarra, Emma Lizarde, Itzel Hueso, Juliana Ibarra, Isabel Ramirez, Paw Poe Gay, Damaris Garcia, Yatnia Hernandez and Mayra Bedolla Jaimes.

Johnston 8, Marshalltown 0

At Johnston

MHS 0 0 — 0

JHN 7 1 — 8

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE

First Half

JHN — Maya McDermott, 3:16.

JHN — Ashley Faber (Katherine Chapman), 6:54.

JHN — Chapman (McDermott), 11:05.

JHN — Chapman (pk), 14:10.

JHN — Chapman (Nevada Voss), 16:39.

JHN — McDermott (Chapman), 17:03.

JHN — Mikayla Gibson (Hannah Bruene), 33:12.

Second Half

JHN — Chapman (Mackenzie Bryan).

Goalkeepers — MHS: Avygail Smith (21 shots on goal-13 saves); JHN: Hannah Fageroos (0-0).

Shots — JHN 35.

Shots on Goal — JHN 21.

Fouls — MHS 1, JHN 2.

Corner Kicks — JHN 6.

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