CHESTERFIELD • As usual, Parkway Central's defense came up big when it needed to. On Wednesday, the Colts scored a first-half goal against visiting Webster Groves, and the defense made that stand up in a 1-0 Suburban South Conference victory.
The contest matched two of the league's hottest teams. Along with Parkway North, the two shared the conference lead.
Parkway Central, which last won the Suburban South in 2006, has recorded six shutouts in a row. The Colts improved to 9-1-1 overalll and 4-1 in league play.
Parkway North, 6-7 and 3-1, did not play on Wednesday.
"Winning ball games does a lot for your confidence," Parkway Central coach John Theobald said. "We did a nice job against a dangerous team. We were able to find a way to stick one in and make it hold."
Webster Groves fell to 5-6 and 3-2.
"We have played a difficult schedule and have fallen behind early in games and did not respond," Webster Groves soccer coach Tim Cashel said. "Today we did. We also saw the importance of getting that first goal. I believe if we would have scored first, the second one would have come soon after."
The game's only score came with 9 minutes, 21 seconds left in the first half when Alex Whalen headed in a throw-in by Justin Bradshaw. It was Whalen's seventh goal of the season.
"I have probably scored four goals this season just like that," Whalen said.
Once it had the lead, the Colts played defense took over.
The Statesmen had the upper hand in terms of possession in the second half, but defenders Matheus Cavalcante, Nick Helmbacher, Alex Mischel, and Alex Willenbrink made life easier for admittedly nervous Central goalie Andrew Checkadanov.
"We got a little scared," Chekadanov said. "The defense was in its shell for the rest of the game."
Parkway Central struggled to add to its lead, getting few scoring chances in the second half.
"We talked about pushing the pace, but it comes and it goes," Theobald said. "We know that we don't score too much so we have to defend like mad."
The Colts are away from conference play for two weeks.
"We need the mental rest," Theobald said. "We're usually more high strung, and we put pressure on ourselves in these conference games. We're not near as relaxed."
