Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
MARION — The Marion Wildcats used a strong start and a huge second half to turn back Carbondale 5-3 and take over sole possession of first place in the South Seven.
Jaycen McBride and Lukas Aguirre scored four minutes apart to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead 16 minutes into the match.
Carbondale stormed back. Declan Hickam buried a penalty kick, and Mogo Kebinang scored twice as the Terriers rallied to take a 3-2 lead late in the half. With a little more than a minute to play in the opening half, Hickam nearly made it 4-2 on a free kick, but Wildcats’ sophomore keeper Charli Smith made a sprawling save to keep it 3-2 heading into intermission.
The second half was all Marion, as the Wildcats rattled off three unanswered goals to come away with the win to improve to 3-0 in conference play. The Terriers all to 2-1 in the conference.
