Photo by Jake McNeill: Marshall forward Isaiah Argueta (10) kicks the ball around the charging Mankato West goalkeeper before scoring a go-ahead goal during a section 2AA quarterfinals match at Mattke Field in Marshall on Tuesday night.

MARSHALL — With the history of last year’s first-round defeat as the No. 2 seed looming, anxiety filled the air as the No. 2 Marshall boys soccer team headed into overtime against No. 7 Mankato West in the Section 2AA quarterfinals on Tuesday night. Yet, any unease was quickly wiped away as Moo Gay scored the game-winning goal two minutes into the overtime period, giving Marshall a 2-1 win and sending the Tigers to the section semifinals against Worthington.

“Once again, I knew it. This team [Marshall] is really good,” Gay said after first giving thanks for his Christian faith. 

After going through the handshake line with the Scarlets, Gay immediately went to the trainer to ice up a lower-body injury but was in good spirits with the win. 

“On the goal, I saw a little space and I forced it. I forced it again, but of course, it was worth the injury to put it back in the net.”

Gay had gotten the ball on a fast break with a trio of defenders trailing him. With only the goalie to beat, Gay faked going inside before pulling back and dribbling toward the right post. The keeper bit on the fake and with nobody to beat, Gay dribbled the ball right up to the goal line to send the Tigers on to the semifinals.

“This was a tough team. I don’t think we’ve ever beaten them, so I feel good,” Marshall head coach Tony Correa said. “We knew they were going to bring high pressure. Their record doesn’t really describe their team because they’ve got a tough schedule. They’ve got big dudes, fast dudes that clearly gave us a hard time here, so I’m just happy for these boys for not giving up and that we got the last goal in overtime.”

The Scarlets were 4-11-1 heading into Tuesday’s quarterfinal matchup, having lost four of their previous five matchups. Yet, they played plenty of their opponents tight. When they took on Mankato East — the top seed in section 2AA — the game was decided by just one goal.

Tuesday’s win gave Marshall some vindication after last year, when the Tigers were also the second seed before falling 3-0 to the No. 7 Jordan Hubmen in the first round. Still, Marshall was determined to not let history repeat itself.

Through the game’s first 20 minutes, Marshall had two shots on goal — one of which came on a free kick from Gay — while Mankato West was held without one. While Marshall controlled possession, they struggled to break through into the attacking third. Correa attributed Marshall’s struggles with the Mankato defense to the Scarlets’ size.

“That’s always going to be our weakness, we’re not the biggest team. But we’ve got big chemistry,” Correa said.

The trend shifted when Moo Gay collected the ball about 35 yards out from the goal along the left sideline and sent a deep arcing pass toward the opposite corner of the goal. Trailed by a pair of Scarlet defenders, Marshall forward Isaiah Argueta beat the charging goalkeeper to the spot and used his right foot to tip it to the goalie’s inside. From there, Argueta tipped in the goal before extending his arms and streaking along the sideline toward his bench to celebrate with his teammates.

“I didn’t know if I was going to make it [to the ball]. I just tried, went for it and touched it under the goalie’s glove and put it in,” Argueta said. “It was just a matter of keeping on trying every single play.”

Argueta’s goal sparked a run for the Marshall offense. After recording two shots on goal in the first 20 minutes, the Tigers outshot Mankato West 5-1 for the remainder of the first half. Correa said that the offense got in its rhythm by combining more passes with its wings, adding that Mankato West goalkeeper Carter Schaff played excellently in the loss to keep Marshall off the board. Schaff finished with 11 saves in the match.

After Argueta’s goal, the Tigers led for 50 minutes and had victory within reach. Yet, Mankato West was awarded a free kick in the 74th minute 25 yards out from the goal and well outside the numbers on the field. The Scarlet kick curved in toward the goal and West tapped in the rebound for the equalizer that eventually forced overtime.

In the 63rd minute, Marshall attempted to get another long downfield pass to Argueta. He got the ball down near the box, but the defense behind him fouled Argueta as he caught up with the ball. Argueta exited the game after being hurt on the play and Marshall was unable to capitalize on the indirect free kick it was awarded inside the box to the right of the goal.

While the Tigers dominated the end of the first half, West adjusted at the break and outshot Marshall 4-2 in the second.

Marshall keeper Roberto Garcia Lopez finished the match with six saves between the posts for the Tigers.

As the No. 2 seed in the tournament, Marshall (13-2-2)  earns the right to host its section semifinal matchup. The Tigers will welcome the No. 3 Worthington Trojans to Mattke Field for the next round of the tournament, with the game slated to start on Thursday at 7 p.m. Correa said that the Tigers feel like they know what the Trojans will try in the match, but that Marshall just needs to feel confident in itself, its veteran leadership, feed on the support of the fans in the stands for the home matchup.

“We’re expecting the seniors to go all the way,” Correa said. “That’s all I’ve got, I expect them to be better than any team.”

Worthington defeated Marshall 4-1 when the teams first met in Marshall on Sept. 3, but the Tigers defeated the Trojans on the road for the first time on Sept. 24, picking up a 2-1 win. 

“I wouldn’t say I’m scared, but I’m very motivated to play against them,” Argueta said. “It’s a very hostile environment when we play them, but I’m ready to play. We’re all ready.”