Monett scored midway through the first half and added two more goals in the second half to defeat Joplin 3-0 on Thursday at the JHS Sports Complex.
“We were missing some guys, so we had to think creatively and adjust our gameplan a bit,” Joplin coach Josh Thompson said. “We tried to be more defensive, and I think we did play a lot better on defense. … Going down in the first half, it altered plans a little bit. We had to take a look at halftime to see what we wanted to do.The early goal changed the way that we were looking at the rest of the game.”
Joplin celebrated four representatives in Senior Night ceremonies — Connor Simon, Josh Yarnall, Preston Stockton and Brady Carter.
“Those guys have been with us and contributing for a while,” Thompson said. “I had Connor in middle school, so it is weird seeing him out here (on Senior Night). Josh has been a consummate pro his last four years. Brady was here his freshman year and came back for his senior year. He has done an excellent job on the field, and is really making a big impact in his last year. For Preston, this is his first time back and being eligible from injuries. This was the first time he got to take the field this season, and again, he is one of those guys we have been working with for so long. … They have meant a lot to the program, and we are really glad they are here.”
Monett took the advantage in the 18th minute of action when Roberto Perez found the back of the net to put the Cubs on top 1-0 in the only goal of the first half.
“It was good to get that momentum and find that goal,” Monett coach Cristobal Villa said. “Obviously, we want to score first because it gives us the opportunity to control the pace of the game. It takes the pressure off, and we are not worried about scoring. We did that. We were organized, we were disciplined and we managed it from there on.”
In the 18th minute of the second half, Monett pushed its lead to 2-0 on a goal from Alexis Ramirez. Monett put the game out of reach as time waned in the 37th minute with a goal from Alejandro Garcia to make the score 3-0.
“We talked at halftime and I told the boys they were moving the ball well, but we only had one goal,” Villa said. “We needed to be a little bit more disciplined and organized (in the second half). I wanted them to have a vision of how to move the ball, ‘Where is it going? Who are we sending it to and what are our options?’ And obviously, we needed to find the net. I think they picked up on that a lot better, and we found those two goals in the second half that was able to secure the win.”
Monett improves to 4-2 on the season, while Joplin falls to 3-4.
UP NEXT
Monett hosts Marshfield in a 6 p.m. contest on Monday.
Joplin is at Willard for a 6 p.m. matchup on Tuesday.
