The Bobcats were dispatched 10-0 in less than 60 minutes by the No. 1-ranked West Des Moines Valley Tigers, dropping to 1-15 on the season.

Giving up two goals within the first six minutes, the Bobcats were immediately on the back foot against a Valley team that moves the ball from back to front as smooth as any team the Bobcats have faced on their difficult schedule.

Head coach Stacy Galema said the Bobcats didn’t come into the game low on confidence, but that the first few minutes against Valley (15-0) jarred them.

“They’re sending eight people forward, they’re switching constantly and overlapping,” Galema said. “It’s a lot for us to keep track of. Obviously they’re a really high-quality team.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - Marshalltown’s Natalie Andrade, left, heads the ball out of the goal area as Valley’s Taylor Chapman pursues the play during Tuesday’s soccer match at Leonard Cole Field.

“Today we warmed up and were ready to go, and I feel like we still weren’t ready for their pace and how well they control the ball.”

Four more first-half goals followed — a 6-0 deficit at halftime faced Marshalltown, who continued to struggle with injuries. Carroll Gomez-Reyes and Rachel Jacobs both had to be substituted with injuries, making an already thin backline even more inexperienced. Galema said one of the main problems with the team’s current lack of depth is that, usually, a freshman is replacing a more experienced player in defense. She added that it’s good to get those younger players needed experience at a varsity level, but throwing them in against a top-ranked opponent whose attack consists of high-level movements and quick passes is a difficult ask.

Valley tallied two goals in the first five minutes of the second half and began to put relentless pressure on the Bobcats’ penalty box. Two goals off of corner kicks would end the game before the halfway mark in the second half.

Marshalltown’s regular season is over — the Bobcats play Friday at 6 p.m. at Waterloo United in the first round of Class 3A Region 4 play.