WEBB CITY, Mo. — In a matchup between two teams with double-digit wins that are area, conference and district rivals, it was Webb City that got the better of Carl Junction by the sound of the final whistle with a 1-0 victory on Tuesday at Cardinal Stadium.
The Cardinals broke a scoreless tie midway through the second half with the game’s only goal to move to 15-2 overall with a Central Ozark Conference best 5-0 record.
“I was definitely proud of the girls for pulling out the win,” Webb City coach Nick Harmon said. “I thought there were nerves on both sides and it was disjointed at times. I thought we showed the composure needed to win the game when it mattered.”
Carl Junction falls to 10-4, 2-3 COC on the year.
“I thought the first half we matched their intensity and we played well,” Carl Junction coach Ed Miller said. “In the second half, we came out a little flat and a lot of the play was on our end at the beginning. Once they scored, I think it was a little wakeup call and we started playing a little bit. … We had some opportunities but the ball didn’t bounce our way. It was a hard-fought game.”
The first half played out much like a chess match between two teams who are very familiar with each other. While both teams had their moments of offensive pressure, it was largely a defensive-oriented first 40 minutes.
“We got them fired up and ready to play,” Miller said of his Bulldogs’ play in the first half. “They knew they were in a battle, in a fight, and they came out and it was back and forth. They had a little confidence (playing that way). I think we connected passes well in the first half.”
The tone changed to open the second half, as Webb City played very aggressively on offense, pressuring with the ball on Carl Junction’s end constantly.
“We just needed to show more composure and believe in ourselves in what we can do with possession,” Harmon said when asked what his halftime message to the team was. “(I told them) to not give into the nerves and the atmosphere of the game. … We made a couple minor tactical changes that led to us getting a little more offensive-zone possession.”
Webb City broke through on the scoreboard near the midway portion of the second half when Anea Bemo drew a foul just outside the 18-yard box and left the game because of injury. The Cardinals were awarded a free kick from 20 yards out, with Haven Stanley ripping a shot on goal over everyone and finding the back of the net to make the score 1-0 in the 64th minute.
“Anea has been relentless all season long (attacking),” Harmon said. “She created plenty of opportunities tonight and took one for the team with the foul. With Anea going out injured on the same play, for Haven to convert that set piece was just huge for our momentum.”
Carl Junction’s offensive intensity turned up after the goal. The Bulldogs spent the next several minutes of action on the offensive end. The opportunities at tying the game came up empty as the Cardinals held off CJ for the win.
UP NEXT
Webb City hosts Nixa on Thursday, while Carl Junction hosts Ozark on Thursday.
