Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
MARION — Marion remained unbeaten under new head coach Jessie Crabtree, improving to 5-0 with a 2-1 home win over Centralia in the Lady Wildcats’ South Seven opener.
Kali Wallace scored in the first half to give Marion a 1-0 lead. The Lady Wildcats controlled play in the second half, but Annies’ goalie Cecilia Barrow made multiple saves to keep her team in it.
The Lady Wildcats were finally able to add to their when Kara Odum knocked home a rebound after Morgan Isaacs’ initial shot had hit the crossbar with 23:49 to play.
Centralia got on the board when Addyson McDonal lifted a shot over Marion keeper Emilee Pritchard with 10:37 to play.
The Annies got a great defensive effort from Olivia Neudecker with 3:40 to play, preventing Wallace’s second goal. Kyra Graham’s corner kick went through Barrow’s hands right to Wallace, but Neudecker blocked the shot.
Centralia (6-2, 1-2) was not able to generate any good chances to potentially tie it as Marion (5-0, 1-0) was able to run out the clock.
