A comprehensive performance from No. 6 Dowling Catholic and a nearly non-existent Bobcat attack resulted in a 4-0 victory for the Maroons (4-1).

The Bobcats (4-2) took just two shots over the course of the game, with only one of them on target — a shot from Fernando Garcia that was handily saved by the Dowling keeper.

Head coach Scott Johannes said the team was trying too hard to make things happen once the game started to get away from Marshalltown in the second half.

“I think guys were getting frustrated on their own,” Johannes said. “The more frustration they got, the more they went ‘I can do this,’ rather than trying to trust the team, the concept that we just didn’t have tonight. I was telling them it seemed like about 11 guys, each one of them trying to carry the team by themselves.”

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - Marshalltown junior midfielder Richard Toe dribbles the ball out of the Bobcats’ defensive zone during Tuesday’s soccer match at Leonard Cole Field.

In the first half, despite the attack not making much progress, Marshalltown was generally able to handle the Dowling attack. The game was played mostly in the midfield area, with neither team able to generate much momentum.

Dowling struck after a scramble in the box through Angel Ramirez-Reyes 19 minutes into the game. There weren’t many chances for the Maroons in the rest of the first half, and despite being second-best the Bobcats were still in the game.

Early in the second half Dowling threatened again, but Marshalltown’s defense still kept the Bobcats in with a chance. That is, until Joe Reed fired a shot from the top of the box into the lower left-hand corner. Now down 2-0, the Bobcats started to try and make up the deficit. But within five minutes, the game was out of hand thanks to a close-range finish from Enrico Satori-Fernandes.

Quinn Stewart finished off the scoring for the Maroons in the final 11 minutes with a goal, and the Bobcats were dealt the worst defeat this group of players has faced, Johannes said.

Now with a game against No. 1 Waukee coming up Friday night, Johannes said the Bobcats have to respond.

“You want that state experience, this is what it’s like,” Johannes said. “Back-to-back top-ranked teams, so let’s see what happens.”