Neither coach knew quite what to expect Monday night.
For the Jefferson City Jays, it was Senior Night. That mean the seven Jays seniors would all start.
"Senior Nights can be tricky," Jays coach Eddie Horn said. "You've got some guys in the starting lineup who aren't normally out there for those important minutes at the start of a game."
For the Southern Boone Eagles, it was their first game in two weeks.
"I had no idea what was going to happen tonight," Eagles coach Chris Miller said. "I didn't know if we even knew which direction to kick it."
The Eagles, in fact, did remember which direction to kick it on their way to a 2-0 win against the Jays at the 179 Soccer Park.
The break in Southern Boone's schedule came about after a game against Fatima was postponed twice due to wet conditions. And Monday night's game was another rescheduled contest because of the recent rain.
"It's been tough to get in a game," Miller said.
Southern Boone got on the board eight minutes into the contest. Jake Salmons sent a pass to Jacob Moore near the top of the box and the senior lined his shot into the back of the net.
"That was a good finish on what was a nice ball played by Jake," Moore said.
It was Moore's 23rd goal of the season and his third game-winner against the Jays in four years.
"We've asked him to do a few different things this year, so his numbers are down a little bit," Miller said. "But Jacob can do that from time to time."
The normal starters for the Jays hit the field midway through the first half and the play evened out.
"I think we got a good hold on the game at that point," Horn said. "We didn't create a whole lot, but they weren't getting in on us either."
At halftime, Horn thought the Jays were in good shape with 40 minutes left on the clock.
"We just need to keep playing, keep trying," he said. "I thought if we'd get one goal, we'd probably get two. But we had to get that first one."
Instead, it was the Eagles who got the second one just three minutes into the second half.
"It wasn't the start we were looking for," Horn said.
On the play, Moore drove with the ball toward the Jays' net, drawing the defense toward him. Moore then passed to a wide-open Ian Meentemeyer, who went opposite corner with his shot for the goal.
"Ian finished and that was a big one because you know the thunder is coming at some point," Miller said.
So even up 2-0, Miller was not comfortable.
"No, no, no, never," he said. "If they get one, even with five minutes left, it's going to look like there are 15 minutes left to them."
The Jays appeared to cut the deficit in half with 25 minutes remaining. Spencer Bone lined a long shot that bounced down off the crossbar and spun back into the field of play. The question was, did it cross the goal line? The officials ruled it didn't.
"Does it go in? I don't know," Horn said.
Miller, who was on the opposite end of the field, wasn't sure either.
"I don't know if it went on or not, our boys seemed to think it was awfully close," he said.
Southern Boone had the best chance to score the rest of the way, but Alex Menzies of the Jays cleared the ball off the line with about 10 minutes to play.
Jefferson City finished with an 18-9 edge in total shots, including an 8-4 advantage in those on net. Isaac Wren got his 13th shutout of the season in goal for the Eagles.
"We hung in there, there are some good things that we can take out of this game," Horn said. "We're just unsettled on a spot in the back and we need to get that fixed soon because the playoffs are right around the corner."
Miller likes to play the Jays just before the postseason.
"It's a great game for us right before districts because of the style they play," he said. "They make you chase, they make you defend off the ball and play as a group."
Southern Boone (20-2, ranked No. 2 in Class 2) will wrap up the regular season with a pair of home games this week, starting with a game tonight against Helias. Southern Boone will then host Hickman on Thursday.
"It's been a little different season because we may not be quite as potent offensively," Miller said. "Defensively, we've hung in there and gotten a couple of breaks and done a decent job."
Jefferson City (13-6) will conclude its regular season with games Wednesday at Rockhurst and Thursday at Waynesville.
Monday night's JV game between the Jays and the Eagles ended scoreless.