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VINCENT -- Anything can happen in a Warren-Marietta game, which is why MHS girls soccer coach Bill Mannix doesn't take wins against the Warriors for granted.
The Tigers' 4-0 triumph over the Warriors Monday was no exception.
"At the end of the day, you never know what you're going to get when you play Warren-Marietta, regardless of where you're at or what your record is," said Mannix, whose Tigers improved to 3-2 on the year. "We feel confident about getting out of here with a 4-0 win. They're a quality side. We don't take them for granted, but we're glad the outcome was what it was."
Four different players scored goals for the orange and black while keeper Leigha Lauer came away with a clean sheet. Warren (4-4) finished with three shots on goal against the orange and black defense.
"The style Warren was trying, we did a pretty good job against," Mannix said. "They did get a few balls behind our back line which I did not like and we'll have to work on, but again, I think we did a good job cleaning up the mistakes that we let happen. Leigha, of course, cleaned up the rest for us, which is what we always count on."
Lauren Elliott got the Tigers on the board in the 13th minute when she got a shot past Warren keeper Megan Brothers to make it 1-0, which was the score at halftime.
Just 20 seconds into the second half, the Tigers got some cushion when Caroline Cortopassi drilled a shot out of Brothers' reach to make it 2-0.
That gave Marietta, which visits Watkins Memorial Thursday, some breathing room.
"I thought we played pretty good," Mannix said. "We definitely had a lot of energy for the game. I don't think we played as crisp as we'd like to have, but we definitely had a lot of energy. I think the girls played good and gave a lot of effort."
Seven minutes into the second half, Jacey McKnight had a shot hit the bottom of the crossbar and bounce out to narrowly miss out on a goal. Just minutes later, though, McKnight got the ball in the corner and crossed it to a charging Millie Becker, who was able to knock it into the back of the net for a 3-0 lead.
"As soon as I saw (McKnight) about to cross the ball I knew I had to get in there," Becker said. "I shouldered it in. I knew I couldn't get a head on it so I kind of just swung my shoulder at it."
The Tigers added their final goal at the 19:27 mark when Grace Spencer cashed in on a penalty kick. The Tigers put 12 shots on goal in the contest, with Brothers saving eight of them.
"Both teams brought out their best game," Mannix said. "Going back a long time, these girls have played a lot of games against each other. I think the energy comes with that."
Warren, which heads to South Point Saturday, had its closest scoring chance with five minutes remaining when Mackenzie James-McGuire put a free kick on frame, but Lauer went up and tipped it over the goal.
"Leigha always plays good," Becker said. "I'm glad she got a shutout. I thought our defense was really strong tonight, winning the balls out of the air and talking."
Becker, a senior captain for the Tigers, admitted wins against their rivals mean a little bit more.
"We haven't lost to Warren in a long time, so every time we come here it's a big game and everyone wants to do their best," Becker said, adding that she feels good about the direction the Tigers are headed.
"I feel pretty confident in us. I feel like this game gave us a lot more confidence and I feel like we'll come out even stronger against Watkins."
Contact Jordan Holland at jholland@mariettatimes.com.