Photo by Sam Thiel Marshall’s Bryan Esparza looks to score during their game against Mankato Loyola on Thursday. Marshall defeated Mankato Loyola 3-1.

MARSHALL — After dropping back-to-back games earlier this week, the Marshall boys soccer team looked to bounce back in a key matchup against Mankato Loyola. MHS did just that, overcoming an early goal by the Crusaders with three unanswered goals of its own and earned a 3-1 victory on Thursday.

Marshall coach Roberto Esparza said they were able to learn and gain some experience from their first matchup against Loyola on Aug. 31, a 2-1 loss, and take advantage the second time.

“We gained some experience from the first game against them, so we knew how they played,” coach Esparza said. “We took advantage of that and practiced a couple of plays to gain the momentum on our side.”

Mankato Loyola jumped out to a quick start, scoring four minutes into the game to take a 1-0 lead. Marshall would have an answer, though, as Isaac Correa got one past the goaltender a few minutes later to tie things up at 1-1 with 33 minutes left in the first half. MHS wasn’t done there, with Correa getting his second goal of the evening near the midway mark to give Marshall a 2-1 lead, which held going into halftime.

In the second half, the two teams went back and forth throughout the majority of the frame, but Marshall was then able to capitalize near the midway mark when Bryan Esparza found the back of the net to ultimately bring it to the 3-1 final.

Up next

Marshall (5-4) will face Mankato West at home on Monday at 5 p.m. Coach Esparza said he knows that it will be another challenging matchup and hopes this game will be a confidence boost for them.

“Mankato West is a good team so it’ll be a good challenge,” coach Esparza said. “I hope this game will bring our team up after those two losses that we had earlier this week.”