Trailing 2-1 with about six minutes remaining in Tuesday’s soccer match between Collinsville and Edwardsville high schools, the Kahoks were able to put together several solid chances on goal, but not get any across the end line.

Edwardsville and Collinsville players wait for the ball to come down / Photo by Roger Starkey

Collinsville (3-4-1 overall, 1-2 Southwestern Conference) beat the Edwardsville (7-2 overall, 4-0) goalkeeper with six minutes to go in the match, but senior defender Justin Lowry was able to deflect the ball out of the net just inches before it crossed the line.

Collinsville head soccer coach Myles Hensler said the play was a breakout play, so the linesman could not be in a position to see it.

“It looked like it was close. From my stance, I can’t say if it was in or not. It was definitely inches one way or the other. We almost put the rebound in and headed it wide,” Hensler said. “We need to take care of those chances and make sure we win them and close on the opportunities that we get late in the match.”

The play was nearly identical to the goal that put the Tigers up 2-1 when, 12 minutes earlier, Edwardsville senior midfielder Connor Wright scored when he knocked a ball into a Kahoks defender standing in the goal. Freshman goalkeeper Brett Niedzwiecki had the ball slip through his fingers moments earlier and bounce around helplessly in front of the goal before Wright picked up the loose ball and put it home.

Edwardsville cracked the scoreboard first when senior midfielder Connor Wright scored on a breakout play that made it to end line before being crossed and knocked home by Wright. “It was a good goal, it was well earned,” Hensler said. “We got caught napping.”

Collinsville’s lone goal came when senior forward Alex Lamoreaux charged down field mostly unchecked and beat the senior goaltender Brendan Heaton over his head with a left foot.

Rain caused the turf field at Kahok stadium to be wet, which meant the game was played at a faster pace. “Take a bad touch and it’s going to skip away from you with ease,” Hensler said.

Despite the result, Hensler said the Kahoks’ played hard. “I was happy with the way the guys played. I wish we could have put a couple more goals in the back of the net,” Hensler said. “They battled.”

The Kahoks are back in action at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday when they host Chaminade,

Hensler said playing quality schools from Missouri will help the team prepare for the playoffs. “We play those good teams from Missouri to try to get ready for post-season play, so we can be prepared in case we run into Edwardsville or Belleville West, “You’re not going to make your program better by playing teams for victories.”