Marshalltown, IA—The Marshalltown Community College soccer team allowed a goal in the closing minutes to Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) rival Iowa Central Community College to fall at home, 2-1 on Saturday afternoon. David Gomez (Marshalltown, IA/Marshalltown) recorded the team's lone goal.
After falling behind in the 18th minute, the Tigers rebounded in the 25th minute as Gomez was able to elude the Triton defenders and chip a shot over the opposing goalkeeper for his third score of the year. The match remained even at one until the Tritons buried a rebound with just 2:11 to play, dropping the Tigers to 3-4-0 on the year and 1-2-0 in conference play.
Iowa Central upped its conference-best record to 3-0-0 on the year to remain in first place.
Freshman goalkeeper Kwan Tolbert (Conway, AR/Conway) tied his personal-best mark with seven saves on the day, including several from point-blank range.
The Tigers pressured early against the Tritons, but it was Iowa Central that struck first with a direct kick from roughly 30 yards out that beat the outstretched arms of Tolbert in the upper corner for the early edge.
The lead was short-lived as Gomez was able to use his speed to slip past the Triton backline. Sophomore defender and captain Jordan Gilmore (Portadown, UK/Craigavon) played a left-footed ball from the far sideline, deep in MCC territory that cleared the defense. Gomez played his first touch into the back of the net for the equalizer, his third goal of the year.
A physical match developed well into the second half for both sides. Late in the second frame, the Tritons possessed the ball into the MCC defensive end and played a through ball that snuck past the MCC backline. Tolbert was faced with a one-on-one, and stopped the initial shot, but Michael Mayberry drilled the rebound into the back of the net for the game-winner.
The Tigers were limited to just eight shots on the afternoon, with only two coming on net.
The loss to the Tritons is the first for the Tigers in the teams' last five meetings.
The Tigers travel to Iowa Lakes Community College on Tuesday for a 4:00 PM ICCAC matchup with the Lakers.
