The Marshall County High School Tigers (1-5) hosted the Columbia Academy Bulldogs (3-1) on the pitch in Lewisburg in a non-district game on Tuesday evening.

The Tigers struck first at the 17:30 mark of the first half as Juan Carlos Mejia sailed one into the Bulldog’s net to put MCHS up 1-0.

In the second half Will Garrison scored for CA on a penalty kick and neither team scored again as the two squads plated to a draw.

Goal keeper Alfredo Granados was steady as he turned back numerous CA attacks and only allowed a penalty kick to pierce the Tigers’ net.

The first half saw the Tigers bend but not break as the Bulldogs came out aggressive and flashing solid play, but MCHS and Granados held their ground.

But by mid-first half, the Tigers began to hold their own with CA and Mejia let fly a kick that deflected off a CA player and went in to put the Tigers on the board first, 1-0.

Playing hard and fast, the Tigers turned back CA for the rest of the first half and when the horn sounded MCHS led 1-0.

The Bulldogs came out of the halftime break even more aggressive than at the start of the game, but the Tigers and Granados stood their ground until with four minutes gone in the second half, Garrison’s penalty kick found the right side of the net to tie the match at 1-1.

The rest of the second half was spent on the Tiger end of the field, but give these players from MCHS credit as they fought, scrambled, blocked, and kicked to keep the Bulldogs out of the net.

CA had multiple penalty kicks, but Granados gobbled up the ones near the net and watched as the others sailed wide of the goal.

MCHS had several chances to score, but the ball went wide or was blocked by the Bulldogs.

As time ticked away the action became heated, but the Tigers held back the Bulldog attacks and when the clock read zeros MCHS had preserved the tie.

The Tigers travel to Fayetteville City on Thursday for another non-district game.

“We have struggled the last couple of games so it was good to see us come out and play hard. We got the early goal, but they came back and tied it,” MCHS coach Nicholas Werner said. “Afredo (Granados) has been a mainstay in the goal.”

“We’ve played him out in the field, but he is just too valuable at the goal position.”

Columbia Academy 0-1-1

Marshall County 1-0-1

Scoring

First Half

MCHS: Juan Carlos Mejia, 17:30.

Second Half

CA: Will Garrison, 36:20.