Des Moines Roosevelt did just enough with its chances to chase off Marshalltown’s three-match winning streak.

The Roughriders scored twice in the second half to break free from the Bobcat boys’ soccer team, taking their win streak in the series to four in a row with Tuesday’s 2-0 triumph at Leonard Cole Field.

Nash Sanders scored on a brilliant strike on a bouncing ball from 10 yards out with 18 minutes left to break the ice — both literally and figuratively — and AJ Acheson added a second tally 12 minutes later to take the score to its final.

Both teams attempted 10 shots, unofficially, but Roosevelt (2-0) simply made theirs count more than Marshalltown (3-2).

“Yeah we lost, it’s disappointing because we lost, but man we hung in there,” said MHS head coach Scott Johannes. “We had some opportunities and they just didn’t go. I felt really good with our chances going into the wind in the first half, and I thought we were going to get a couple in there.”

Johannes suggested the conditions didn’t bother his team considering the elements they’ve endured through the first eight days of the spring season, but the wind at the Bobcats’ backs in the second half didn’t help enough either.

A couple miscues on the back end led to Marshalltown’s defensive breakdowns, allowing Roosevelt to tally twice in the final 18:07.

An inadvertent handball call gave the Roughriders a free kick from 50 yards away, but a long ball into the box off the foot of Acheson created a chance. Marshalltown goalkeeper Jonathan Nunez and senior defender and captain Jesus Maravilla Ordaz both went for the ball, and the attempted clear didn’t escape the penalty area.

Sanders retrieved the rebound at the top of the box, flicked the ball over a Bobcat defender and sent a left-footed missle into the back of the net.

Acheson made Marshalltown’s comeback hopes disappear into the cold night air when his strike from 30 yards out bounded under Nunez’s diving save attempt and into the net.

“There were just a couple times where we didn’t quite play our best, just a couple moments throughout,” said Johannes. “It wasn’t any one group, but it was here and there. It was fairly sporadic.”

The shutout was the first such defeat for Marshalltown, which had averaged 4.5 goals per game through its first four matches. Andres Ordaz registered Marshalltown’s first official shot on goal with one minute remaining in the first half, and he finished with three of the Bobcats’ 10 shots.

Armando Estrada failed to convert the Bobcats’ best scoring chance of the night, striking the crossbar on his point-blank attempt eight minutes into the second half. Taking a well-placed lead pass from Angel Gomez, Estrada penetrated the Roosevelt defense and his chip shot eluded goalkeeper Cullen Arnold but bounded off the frame.

Edgar Meraz registered a save for Marshalltown’s defense during the early stages as the wind hampered one of Nunez’s clearing attempts. Jack Washburn got a strong shot that Nunez saved, but Kasongo Lunganga’s header appeared headed for the back of the net. Meraz jumped in front of the kick and cleared it over the crossbar with his head, keeping the scoreless tie early on.

Damien Segovia hit a right-footed rocket off a bounding ball in the 68th minute of the match, but Arnold was in the right spot to reject the Bobcats’ attempt to tie the score.

Nunez finished with four saves to Arnold’s three, but the result was a Bobcat defeat.

“We’ve got a lot of season left, it’s early, and we feel like we’re on a great trajectory,” said Johannes, “so let’s get ready for Lincoln.”

The Bobcats play their first road match on Friday, visiting Des Moines Lincoln for a 7:30 p.m. contest.