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Different tone from Bobcats in loss to Mason City

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - Marshalltown’s Anahi Tellez, left, fights for possession with Mason City’s Elizabeth Ondoma during Tuesday’s soccer match at Leonard Cole Field. Mason City won 6-1.

There was no elusive first victory for Marshalltown girls’ soccer Tuesday night, but there was a sense of optimism among the team that was distinctly not present the night before in Monday’s 10-0 demolition by Waterloo Columbus Catholic.

The scoreline isn’t too much more flattering — 6-1 in favor of the visiting Mason City Mohawks (4-6) — but the play on the field was much more palatable for coach Stacy Galema.

“We could tell the difference even when we went over to start warming up,” Galema said. “They were more in it today, they were more ready to be about the team and definitely excited to play and to have that opportunity.”

Marshalltown (0-10) continued its worrying trend of giving up goals within the first five-to-10 minutes of the game, as Mason City took a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute of action. But for the rest of the first half, Marshalltown did not let its collective head slip. This was in stark contrast to the game against the Sailors, when Columbus scored six in the first half and the Bobcats went into the break deflated.

This time, the Bobcats kept fighting, tried to push forward and were down 1-0 at halftime.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING

Within two minutes of the second half getting under way, and the Mohawks scored. Three minutes later, they scored again. Then another goal before the halfway point of the second period. The game was out of reach for Marshalltown.

But still the Bobcats fought and tried to push forward. Their efforts were rewarded just two minutes after Mason City’s fourth goal, as freshman forward Alexia Garcia scored with a volley from the middle of the box after a long throw. It’s the first goal of the forward’s career, and Marshalltown’s third goal of the season.

Mason City added two more goals after Garcia’s breakthrough.

Still, though, there are positives to be taken, Galema said.

“Eventually it has to click,” Galema said. “I think today was more of a sign, more of a positive than Monday.”

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING

Bobcat soccer is on the road Friday against Des Moines Hoover.

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