April 25, 2024

Knoxville ends PCM boys’ season in playoff opener

By Troy Hyde

Prairie City-Monroe senior goalie Blake Read makes a save during the Mustangs' 4-1 loss to Knoxville on Monday in Oskaloosa. (Troy Hyde)

OSKALOOSA — Prairie City-Monroe’s boys’ soccer program was much improved in 2019. The Mustangs piled up nine wins and knocked off a handful of ranked opponents along the way.

PCM hopes to take things even further in 2020, but the Mustangs’ 2019 season ended in disappointment on Monday during a Class 2A Substate 6 opening-round playoff game.

Knoxville took advantage of an own goal early and built momentum from there during a 4-1 victory inside Drost Field at the Lacy Recreation Complex.

“You have to give them credit. They play hard and they attack. No. 9 is very good,” PCM coach Darrin Telfer said.

No. 9 for the Panthers is senior Cristian Magana. He entered the game with five goals and 14 assists for Knoxville and he added to that total against PCM.

Magana sets up his teammates well with precision passing and impressive ball skills. His goal from nearly the midfield line with 29 minutes to play in the game put Knoxville up 3-0.

“We got a little hesitant. And we lost a little confidence early after the own goal,” Telfer said. “They are very athletic and fast and they get after it. We didn’t play our best game either.”

PCM (9-8) was held to nine total shots in the game but only five were on goal. Knoxville peppered Mustang goalie Blake Read with 23 shots and 14 shots on goal. The Panthers (12-4) also took nine corner kicks in the second half.

The own goal in the 27th minute put Knoxville ahead for good. The Panthers led 2-0 at halftime and the lead grew to 4-0 in the 69th minute.

The Mustangs, who ended the season with four straight losses, got a goal from junior Collin Petersen with 10:05 to play in the match, but it was too little too late for the Mustangs. Petersen’s goal came off a throw in by senior Nick Dredge.

The nine wins for PCM is the most for the program in several years. Telfer credits his senior class for raising the bar and challenges his underclassmen to keep it going next season.

Oskaloosa handed Fairfield a 2-1 loss in the second match on Monday. Knoxville faces 2A No. 6 Grinnell/BGM at 5 p.m. on Wednesday in Grinnell. Next up for Oskaloosa is Pella at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Pella.