It would not be a 2014 Kahoks soccer game if the weather did not force changes in the schedule and the result was not 1-0.

Brett Langley (#3) and Jacob Hamann / Photo by John Layton

Tuesday evening’s game against Belleville West was relocated to Kahok Stadium after it was determined the Maroons’ temporary home field at Oerter Park in Columbia was too soggy.

Despite the unexpected home field advantage, Collinsville (2-1 overall, 0-1 Southwestern Conference) fell to Belleville West 1-0. The Kahoks won their first two games this season by the score of 1-0.

Head Coach Myles Hensler said there was no reason for the Kahoks to believe their first conference match was not going to be a battle.

“It was [a battle] tonight,” Hensler said. “Belleville West, they have a good team.”

The Maroons (1-1-1, 0-1 SWC) registered the first shot on goal in the seventh minute, but goalkeeper Brett Niedzwiecki was there to make the stop.

The Kahoks answered with a chance of their own a little over a minute later, but Belleville West sent it out for the corner. The Kahoks’ chance off the corner went behind for a goal kick.

In the 16th minute of the first half, Collinsville had another corner. The ball fell to Belleville West in the box and was cleared away, but not before hitting the hand of a Maroon. Because the ball was hit into the player’s hand, there was no call, but the Kahok faithful were unhappy with the official.

Collinsville had two more corners in the first half, while Belleville West had one of their own. Both defenses stood strong, though, and the game remained scoreless until the 29th minute.

With just over 10 minutes to go in the half, the Maroons had a throw in 30 yards from the goal.

The throw went into the box and fell to the foot of a Belleville West forward who shot it right at Niedzwiecki, who made the initial save. He was unable to corral the shot, and Jordan Tastad was in position to put the ball in the back of the net to give the Maroons the only goal of the night.

Hensler said Belleville West got a good goal off the set piece, which is where he said it is most dangerous. The Maroons defended well the remainder of the contest.

“For the rest of the game, we just couldn’t capitalize on our chances,” Hensler said. “They did a great job on defending and keeping us out of the back of the net.”

After three games, the Kahoks have scored two goals. Hensler said they are creating multiple chances, but they are not executing them.

“We don’t have one person that’s going to be a standout, go to goal type person that’s going to finish every time they get near the goal,” Hensler said.

Collinsville had some chances in the second half. While the Kahoks were unable to convert two more corner kicks, they were able to get a shot on goal in the 24th minute of the second half, when the ball bounced Tanner Przybysz’s way. He was only able to backheel the ball toward Nate Petrekovich, who made the save.

With one minute left, the Kahoks were able to get a free kick from 30 yards out, but the Maroons’ defense stopped the chance once again.

Hensler said that, because it is still early in the season, there is no reason for the team to get down,

“We’ve got a lot of time to grow as a team. We’ve scored two goals and given up one in three games,” Hensler said. “It’s definitely not a bad thing, but it’s obviously not a good thing at the same time.”