It wasn't the result the Helias Crusaders were looking for Saturday.
But with two of their top players on the bench with crutches, it was about as good as the Crusaders could have hoped.
"For where we're at health-wise, we competed at a high level," Helias coach Jay Hebenheimer said after the Crusaders dropped a 4-0 decision to the Ozark Tigers at the Crusader Athletic Complex. "If we didn't, it could have easily been an 8-0 game."
Ozark (9-1) is one of the top soccer teams in Southwest Missouri this season.
"It's a quality Class 4 school, we knew coming in this was going to be a tough game," Hebenheimer said.
Helias stayed as close as it did because of the work on the defensive end by goalie Ben Rehagen and back Ryan Hake.
Rehagen set a Helias single-game saves record with 19 stops, breaking the record of 15 held by Ben Mitan.
"Ben stood on his head," Hebenheimer said.
Hake had a save of his own, clearing a ball off the end line just before it crossed into the goal midway through the second half.
"Ryan was hustling and that hustle kept that ball out of the net," Hebenheimer said.
With seniors Ike Johnson and Kaleb Wilson injured, Helias set back to try to play a defensive game against the potent Ozark offense.
"It worked great for 25 minutes," Hebenheimer said.
With about 15 minutes left in the half, Rehagen made a pair of strong saves in a three-minute span to keep the game scoreless. He tapped a high shot up and off the crossbar on the first one, then dove to get the second.
Ozark scored twice in the final seven minutes of the half. TK Stine settled a loose ball in front of the net to score the first one.
"If we get a good clearance there, they likely don't get that one," Hebenheimer said.
The Tigers' second score will be one of the prettiest goals scored at the Complex this season. It came on a set piece off a free kick. Ozark sent the ball to the far side of the net, then headed it to the other side of the net where Wade Korns was waiting to head it into the net.
"That was quality all the way," Hebenheimer said. "You're not going to do anything against that."
Troy Davidson scored Ozark's final two goals in a five-minute span midway the second half.
Helias (4-7) is back in action Tuesday against Capital City. The JV game will start at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity contest around 6:45 p.m.
"I hope the boys are hungry for a quality result," Hebenheimer said.
There was no JV game Saturday.