Sometimes a team can play poorly and still win.  Sometimes a team can play extremely well and still lose.  The latter statement applied to the Tiger soccer team in a heartbreaking 2-1 shootout loss in Rolla on Monday night.  Waynesville controlled the ball and the tempo of play throughout the game, but it was Rolla, with the 5-4 edge in the shootout, which claimed the Ozark Conference victory. 

Statistically, the game was very even, but Waynesville's superior passing allowed it to dominate possession time most of the way.  Tiger forward Caleb Rodriguez broke the scoreless game open with a goal in the 27th minute.  The goal came during a mad scramble in the Rolla goal mouth.  The ball was kicked straight up and then batted away twice in a row before Rodriguez nailed his rebound shot from right to left. 

Rolla attempted to tie the game with 26 minutes left, but Tiger keeper Jon Moore punched the shot away with a thrilling extension dive to his right.  About two minutes later, Rodriguez headed the ball into the Rolla net off a pass from Riley King, but the goal was discounted on an offside call.  Rolla did tie it with 17:45 on a direct kick.

After two scoreless overtime periods the game went to a shootout.  Each team scored on its first four shots, and Rolla  hit its fifth before the Rolla keeper saved the Tigers' final shot.  Waynesville travels to Joplin for a makeup game on Thursday and then hosts Springfield Central in a 4 o'clock varsity-only game on Friday.  The Central game has been added to the schedule.