With a trip to the sectional stage of the state tournament on the line, the Spartans fell 2-1 to top seeded Francis Howell North on Thursday, Nov. 4 in a game marred by questionable calls and physical play.

The Knights started the scoring with a goal 20 minutes into the first half. The Spartans would send the game to halftime tied with a goal by sophomore midfielder Brett Hodges in the final minute of the half.

Howell North midfielder Zach Johnson would score the winning goal four minutes into the second half off a free kick.

“We didn’t win the two set pieces that [North] scored on,” said senior defender Daniel Rozycki.

The game featured physical play on both sides, with yellow cards being handed out to players on both teams. However, players were upset with some of the calls the referees were not making.

“The referees should have called some fouls for us but they didn’t,” said Rozycki.

This included no calls on elbows to the face and fouls being called on the Spartans when both teams committed similar actions.

Howell North advances to sectionals against Timberland High School tomorrow night after the Wolves defeated Fort Zumwalt West 2-1.