Missouri Military Academy was well aware how aggressive Southern Boone’s offense could be.

The Colonels lost to the Eagles 7-2 at MMA this season but held the No. 1 seed in the Class 2 District 5 tournament to one goal in 57 minutes. MMA lost 4-0 in the district semifinals on Tuesday at Mexico High School to bring its season to an end at 8-10.

Titus Pridemore scored for Southern Boone (17-7) in the first minute. Then the sky opened up and both teams played in a downpour until there were 10 minutes left in the first half. MMA forced a dry spell with Southern Boone’s offense.

MMA vs Southern Boone Photo Gallery

“We were able to go over the game and fix our mistakes from that match,” head coach Rodrigo Padilla said. “We realized they’re a highly attacking team. They’re up there and try to get in our box all the time. They were a little more defensive this team, passing the ball.”

Padilla said the Colonels did well adjusting to Southern Boone’s different strategy to keep them off the scoreboard following that first goal. MMA took four of its five shots on goal in the second half but couldn’t convert.

Southern Boone had its offense going again starting in the 58th minute, when Ayden Hernandez scored the first of his two goals, and Jackson Fischer put in a header off a corner kick. Padilla said the defense was good, and that is because of the leadership of two cadets from the state runner-up team two years ago who played their final games on Tuesday.

“Eric Shellabarger is my leader back there and has four years with MMA,” Padilla said. “He has taken it upon himself to be the leader of the defense along with Emiliano Martinez. Martinez is a three-year cadet. Those two were part of the state team, and they still carry that with them. Whoever is back with them, they make sure to keep them in check and make them understand what is expected from them and teach them to anticipate things we need to do.”

The former MMA cadet Padilla said he knows how the boys feel because he lost in the district semifinals when he played. 

“I told the boys that, ‘No matter what happens, just go out there and play hard,’” Padilla said. “They did. It’s horrible to lose, but I’m proud of the way they played and the way they supported each other.”

MMA had its first losing season in five years but played a schedule where they had several close losses and games against Class 4 opponents. The Colonels faced Class 4 schools like Troy Buchanan, North Point, Ft. Zumwalt North and Battle. Three of those schools had double-digit victories and winning records, but three of those games were decided by a margin of two goals or less and MMA three more close losses like that.

Padilla said MMA cadets aren’t able to rest as much as kids from other schools, and that is tough with about three games a week. He said they have a packed schedule starting from the time they wake up at 9 a.m.

“We’re also playing a lot of Class 4 schools,” Padilla said. “We like to do that for the boys to see the level of play and understand why they’re there and what we need to do to adjust. I know my boys can compete at that level.”

MMA is a boarding school, so Padilla said his roster every year reminds him of a quote from “Forrest Gump” because you “never know what you’re going to get.” He said the boys make it work every year. 

Padilla said it can work next year with some cadets that should be returning such as Elisha Wainaina, who joined the team this year from Kenya. He has “a lot of talent” and is “eager to leave his mark on the school and to try different positions.” 

John Shadonix also stepped up this year and seized the leading scorer role. Shadonix posted three hat tricks this season, including a four-goal game against Canton.

“He’s my conductor,” Padilla said. “He’s in the middle of the field. He leads and sees patterns that I might not be able to see. Even after the games, win or lose, he’s with me like a coach saying, ‘We should try this.’ His head is running at all times when it comes to soccer.”