By Jake Mcneill

jmcneill@marshallindependent.com

MARSHALL – Despite trailing at halftime, the Marshall girls’ soccer team was able to find their rhythm in the second half and complete the comeback at home against Fairmont. The victory was topped off with a penalty kick by Marissa Talamantes that gave Marshall the lead.

Dribbling down into the attacking third on a breakaway, Hannah Gordon was tripped up just inside the box to give Marshall a penalty kick in the first of the two overtime periods. Talamantes, a team captain, stepped up and confidently shot the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal. The keeper was able to get both hands on it, but the shot was hit too hard, and it slipped through to give Marshall a 2-1 lead.

Talamantes is a senior that has been through these situations before, so the team had full confidence in her to make the right play, Marshall head coach Jose Losada-Montero said.

While the Fairmont goalkeeper was unable to make the save, Losada-Montero praised her after the game as being a top-tier goalkeeper, and said that she was probably a top-three goalie in the conference.

Maddy Van Keulen scored to tie the game less than five minutes after half time after converting from short distance while the Fairmont defense was still getting organized in transition. This marks Van Keulen’s second consecutive game with a score after she found the back of the net early in the Tigers’ 1-1 tie against St. Peter over the weekend.

Van Keulen has seven goals on the season now. The way she hustles down the field for every ball and always plays with maximum effort helps to motivate her teammates and is just one of the reasons that she is a captain on the team, Losada-Montero said.

Fairmont scored their goal ten minutes into the first half. After streaking down the right sideline, the Cardinals’ striker was able to send a cross over the middle, allowing Fairmont to connect on a centered pass just five-yards out for an easy goal.

The Tigers had a close call early in the second overtime period when Fairmont sent a shot on goal that ricocheted off the post. There was a scuffle between the teams to try to recover, but the ball was harmlessly knocked out of bounds and Marshall was able to hold on for the win.

The Marshall Tigers (5-4-2) will have one more game to work out the kinks before they start the sectional playoffs. They will go on the road to play New Prague Saturday at 11 a.m.”