Marietta’s Grace Spencer (40) let a shot fly toward Miami Trace’s Elyse Day (5) during Wednesday’s Ohio Division III district semifinal at Logan High School. (Photos by Kerry Patrick)

LOGAN — Forgive Izzy Riggs if she required a double-take on her game-winning goal Wednesday night in an Ohio Division III district semifinal at Logan High School.

After all, she is more accustomed to setting up the primary scorers on the Marietta girls soccer team.

One of four captains on the roster, the senior scored the game’s lone goal at the 7:46 mark of the first half, which proved to hold up as the Tigers defeated Miami Trace 1-0 at Chieftain Stadium.

“I was a little surprised,” said Riggs, who showed a brief reaction of shock when the goal found the net upper right. “I’m not that big of a shooter. I usually lead us in assists. We just weren’t getting any of our shots in so I took a chance and I was really excited I took a chance.”

As the No. 1 seed, Marietta improves to 15-2-1 and advances to Saturday’s district final against either second-seeded Fairfield Union or sixth-seeded Sheridan.

Marietta’s Blaire Reed (1) arrives for a possible rebound as the Miami Trace keeper Ella McCarty collects a shot attempt during Wednesday’s Ohio Division III district semifinal at Logan High School. (Photos by Kerry Patrick)

“I was happy with the effort we put in, for sure,” Marietta coach Bill Mannix said. “The execution wasn’t there, but the effort was out there.”

With a prevailing wind blowing in the face at one end then hitting their backside for the opposite half, the conditions created two games in one for both sides.

Marietta chose to have the wind at its back for the first half, and a majority of the first 40 minutes were played in Miami Trace territory. The Tigers’ offense had plenty of looks as the Panthers’ keeper made seven saves by the end of the half.

Marietta also attempted five of its seven corner kicks before intermission.

“We ultimately tried to score in the first half, but we couldn’t find the back of the net – that’s been our nemesis all year,” Mannix said. “So we were attacking much harder. Then in the second half, I just wanted to make sure we won the ball in the air.”

Marietta’s Caroline Cortopassi (2), Izzy Riggs (7) and Blaire Reed (1) line up for a corner kick during Wednesday’s Ohio Division III district semifinal against Miami Trace at Logan High School. (Photos by Kerry Patrick)

Even with the change of wind direction for the second half, Marietta’s offense continued to create scoring chances and finished the final 40 minutes with five shots on goal – but all turned away.

Miami Trace (13-5-1), which managed just two shots on goal in the first half, increased the pressure in the second half.

Marietta keeper Maura Misel came up huge twice in the final 20 minutes. The first sequence started with the Panthers’ Nora Morrison dribbling the ball one-on-one with a Marietta defender some 50 yards downfield. Misel came out of the crease, cut down the angle and made a kick-save after Morrison fired her shot.

“Maura had a huge night,” Mannix said. “I mean, we are probably still playing right now if she doesn’t make that save. It was outstanding. That was a great shot and a good save.

“From being a player in the field last year and being converted to goalie, we’re happy with where she is at.”

A Marietta fan sports the team colors for Wednesday’s Ohio Division III district semifinal against Miami Trace at Logan High School. (Photos by Kerry Patrick)

Near the 10 minute-mark, this time it was Miami Trace’s Marian Mara getting possession deep in the box. Her first shot attempt was stuffed by the Tiger defense, but she gained possession of the rebound and passed to teammate Emma Hoppes on her left. Hoppes was stopped by Misel on what appeared to be a clear look initially.

“The wind was a lot less on one side of the field, it was carrying more on the other side,” Misel said. “I love my defense.”

With a win in sight, Marietta was able to burn the final two minutes without Miami Trace taking over possession past midfield.

“As much action as there was in the game, I didn’t think the one goal would stand up,” Riggs said. “Their goalie was really good. I was really impressed with her. She had a lot of good saves.

“My freshman year, we went to the Final Four and I truly believe we are going to make it back there if we progress through these last few weeks. If we play Fairfield Union, we always have had a sort of mental game with them. It’s always back and forth every year. We ended their season two years ago and they ended our season last year. We just really need to prepare ourselves and get in the right frame of mind to have a good game if it is them we play.”

The Marietta girls soccer team gathers in a huddle prior to the start of Wednesday’s Ohio Division III district semifinal against Miami Trace at Logan High School. (Photos by Kerry Patrick)

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com