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By Derek Shore (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Monett Cubs have accomplished many feats on the pitch over the last few years, including five consecutive district titles and the program’s first quarterfinal appearance in 2015-16, but yet no Final Four berth to show for it.
That changed quickly.
On Saturday afternoon, the Cubs reached uncharted territory, advancing to the Final Four for the first time in program history as Monett (18-6-1) outlasted the Boonville Pirates (8-15) by a final of 3-2 in the Class 2 quarterfinals at Burl Fowler Stadium.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
“It feels awesome (to survive and advance),” the Cubs head coach Cristobal Villa said after the game. “We talked in the locker room, and for the seniors like guys, ‘We don’t want to make this the last game.’ ‘We want to continue, and we love you guys.’
“The team chemistry’s there. Everybody was working hard for one goal, and that was to win.”
After being eliminated by Southern Boone in quarters last year, Villa felt that experience last year coupled with a tough schedule helped them eliminate the Pirates.
“We have some returning key players that have been here before,” he said. “We played good teams this fall. That helped a lot to see different kinds of players such as speed or ball controlling. We had to adapt to different things. I think this is when it pays off.”
Monett struck first in the 80-minute do-or-die affair via Jason Puente goal at the 35:05 mark, launching 22-yard laser for a 1-0 lead.
Controlling pace of the game for much of the first half, the Cubs’ Freddy Ramirez added to the early advantage of a misplay, netting a goal just beyond the reach of Booneville goalie Riley Lang not even ten minutes into action, giving Monett a 2-0 lead at the half.
Roughly four and half minutes into the second half, things got better for the Pirates. Boonville senior Philip Udinyiwe cut the lead in half after scoring on a one-on-one matchup with Cubs goalie Cameron Cody.
At that point, Monett had been held at bay for the last 50 minutes of the game.
“We needed to play stronger as a team (to adjust back to the Pirates),” Puente said. “Knowing that, (Coach Villa) told us that they are a second half team – we needed to play strong. He said communication was going to be key. We stuck with that, and we played hard.”
At the 62nd minute, Puente got the Purple Haze back on track, blasting another 20-plus yard rocket to hand Monett a 3-1 lead and broke out the proverbial back flip for the second straight game.
“Getting the lead up to 3-1 was great,” he said. “Coach always tell us a 2-0 game is dangerous.”
As the clock began to wind down, the Pirates Josh Udinyiwe kept their playoff chances alive, heading the ball in off the free kick, shrinking the deficit down to 3-2 at the 10:30 mark, but the Cubs ultimately held on for the victory.
“It was intense knowing that they were playing hard and we were playing hard,” Puente said of the closing minutes of the game. “We had to come back. We had to play as a team and play smart.”
Monett moves on to play in the semifinals in Fenton, MO on Fri., Nov. 4 to face either KC O’Hara or St. Pius X of Kansas City. Scheduled start time is slated for 10 a.m. at World Wide Technology Soccer Park.
“We have some days to get back together and refocus,” Villa said. “We just don’t want to go and be part of the final four. We want to go there and compete. We want to win it – win it all. This is how hungry this team is.”
Monett vs. Booneville boxscore
First half results:
1-0 Cubs at 35:05 mark in 1st – Puente goal; assist by Carlos Izaguirre for Monett
2-0 Cubs at 30:35 mark in 1st – Freddy Ramirez goal for Monett
Second half results:
2-1 Cubs at 35:30 mark in 2nd – Udinyiwe goal for Booneville
3-1 Cubs at 18:50 mark in 2nd – Puente goal for Monett
3-2 Cubs at 10:30 mark in 2nd – Udinyiwe goal for Booneville
