Marietta's Alyssa Baker challenges Parkersburg South's Adi Altizer for possession during the Patriots' 2-1 come-from-behind victory Tuesday evening inside Erickson All-Sports Facility. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

PARKERSBURG — Marietta struck first here Tuesday night inside Erickson All-Sports Facility, but the Parkersburg South girls of head coach Ron Bucholtz tallied a pair of goals just 27 seconds apart after intermission to remain unbeaten thanks to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory.

Grace Spencer put the 4-3 Tigers of head coach Bill Mannix on the scoreboard first when she found the back of the net in the 32nd minute on a long indirect kick.

“They had the better game for a while,” admitted coach Bucholtz. “You know, unfortunately, we had a little mishap. That’s really the third free kick we’ve given up a goal on this season. It never should have gone in the net. It’s an indirect free kick. We know how to play that. Unfortunately, Emilee (Owens) went toward the ball and then it becomes a question mark if she touches it.

“If she doesn’t touch it, it’s not a goal because it’s an indirect kick. If she stands still the referees don’t even have to make a decision, but once she moves toward the ball and reaches her hands out, they felt like she touched it. She said she didn’t. We couldn’t tell. We didn’t think she did, but you never know. It’s one of those things. It is what it is. We just have to play that better.”

Marietta, which returns to action 3 p.m. Saturday at Bexley, had an early run turned away when Spencer’s through to Meredith Schaad was thwarted by Patriot Addy White.

Marietta's Colbie Wheeler prepares to make a move with the ball as Parkersburg South's Caiden Watson defends during the Tigers' 2-1 setback Tuesday evening at Erickson All-Sports Facility. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Spencer, who tallied her 13th goal of the campaign, had a corner kick in the sixth minute glance off the top of the crossbar.

South’s Adi Altizer had a cross that led to the Patriots’ first corner kick by Jozy Barton after the cross was played out by Izzy Riggs, who didn’t return after being injured with less than a minute remaining in the half.

Despite being down 1-0 at intermission, the Patriots stormed back to improve to 8-0-2.

“I mean Parkersburg South is always a good team,” said coach Mannix. “I think they were a much more physical team than we are, which helps them. I’m not saying there was anything wrong with what they did. I just think we need to equalize their physicality. We also had our three-year starting center back (Riggs) go down with a knee injury. Our striker (Caroline Cortopassi, seven goals) was already out.

“Not making excuses, but ultimately when you lose your starting center back, you kind of lose what you are doing back there. Caroline got hurt against Warren and she’s been out. She’s a real fast player. Not having her takes away a lot of speed up top. At the end of the day we had chances. I just think the physicality of Parkersburg South was too much for us tonight. They are a very good team, well coached and they make runs off the ball very nicely.”

Parkersburg South keeper Emilee Owens dives on a ball before Marietta's Grace Spencer can get her foot on it as Patriot teammate Caiden Watson defends during the Tigers' 2-1 setback Tuesday evening at Erickson All-Sports Facility. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

The Patriots came out strong in the second half and had a chance to even it in the 45th minute, but Altizer’s diving header attempt from a Regan Shockey cross was off the mark. Altizer followed in the 46th minute with a shot on goal, but MHS keeper Leigha Lauer made a leaping one-handed punch save.

With just seven seconds left in the 49th minute, Parkersburg South finally broke through when Shockey fired a shot from an Altizer cross and then put home the rebound after Lauer made the initial save.

Less than 30 seconds later, Shockey sent a cross into the box as Altizer assisted on Barton’s match-winner.

“Marietta, the last several years they’ve been a quality team and they always come to play,” added coach Bucholtz. “They are well organized, well coached and we know they got an outstanding goalkeeper and several good players. They came out to play in the first half. We still had a couple chances in the first half. Leigha made a great save, I think it was Jozy on a breakaway, and she just got a toe on it. We had a great 2 v. 1 toward the end of the half and we didn’t play it right because we made it easier for the defender to get in the passing lane and forced the pass to go too vertical and Leigha just swallowed it up.

“If we play that differently at least we create the shot. We didn’t play that well. In the second half our girls came out to play. We were all over them and found the two goals quickly to take the lead and had another couple chances to make it three, four to one and Leigha made another good save on a breakaway (Altizer), and Regan just hit that one shot high and wide, but very pleased with the second half. First half, we just need to improve. We’ve had a few halves like that. We just need to be better and sharper. The beauty is we’re not conceding goals in the run of play, which is excellent. I mean that’s outstanding team defense.”

Marietta keeper Leigha Lauer manages to knock the ball away from the Parkersburg South's Adi Altizer before she can record a shot on goal during the Tigers' 2-1 setback Tuesday evening inside Erickson All-Sports Facility. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Spencer had a couple of late chances and had the Tigers’ final shot on goal in the 76th minute.

“We always look forward to playing them every year,” said coach Mannix, who received 13 saves from Lauer. “We just came up short. We’ve tied them. We’ve lost 2-1. We’ve lost 1-0.

“We’ve lost 1-0, so it’s always been a very good game. What stinks is we don’t get a chance to play them again until next year now. I think the biggest thing tonight was we got outmuscled.”

Parkersburg South will try to continue its winning ways when the Patriots head for a 7 p.m. match Thursday at rival Parkersburg, which has an 8-0-1 mark.

“If we can go back and clean up the three mistakes we made on free kicks this season, I mean clean sheets through 10 games would be pretty awesome, but sometimes things happen and you make mistakes, and you get punished for it,” Bucholtz stressed. “That’s really what it has been. All the goals we’ve given up on free kicks have just been mistakes.

“If we can try to clean that up where as last year we didn’t give up a goal once all season on a corner kick or free kick, but we gave up goals on the run of play. It’s a double-edged sword. Where we are only having three go in the goal so far, I’m happy with that.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com