Ryan Ladika/MDN Sophomore forward Syrus Mayne dribbles the ball in Minot’s offensive zone during the first half of the Magi’s Tuesday night contest against Bismarck High.

“It’s going to be a whole different ballgame than it was down there the first time.”

Magi head coach Creighton Bachmeier called it prior to the game’s opening kick, but his team was unable to follow through with its adjustments.

The Minot High boys’ soccer squad was dealt its first defeat of the fall season Tuesday evening by the Bismarck High Demons 3-1, falling to 13-1-1 on the season behind a pair of first-half scores by Demons midfielder Dominic Williams in a game that got progressively more physical and tense as it wore on.

The Magicians did not see Williams during their Sept. 2 trip to the capital city, a contest that resulted in a 2-0 victory for Minot. Bachmeier knew the senior would pose issues for the Magi as he has to opposing teams all season long, and stressed the importance of staying organized against an imposing Demons club.

“He is a dynamic player, and he can really change the complexion of a game and really cause a lot of fits on a team’s back line,” Bachmeier said pregame. “He’s capable of putting in two or three goals and creating those two or three opportunities basically on his own.”

The prophecy rang true within the first 20 minutes of the game back in Minot’s Duane Carlson Stadium, as two quick first-half scores by Williams put the Magicians in an early 2-0 ditch. Minot was not without opportunities in the first half, mustering five shots on goal and eight in total, but the Demons were surgical in halting the Magi’s chances and keeping them frustrated through the first 40 minutes of play.

Shortly after a third Demons goal with 29:23 remaining in the contest, Minot midfielder Ezra Hagerott streaked down the middle of the field and was able to finish his scoring chance, cutting the Magi’s deficit to 3-1 with 24:44 left in the game. Brayden Oswalt was credited with an assist on the play.

The two teams remained quite physical, fighting through countless rough hits and later a yellow card handed to Minot goaltender JJ Dufner that forced him from the game after a questionable Bismarck hit, but the Magi were unable to find the offensive and competitive rhythm from the start that carried them to 13 wins and a draw entering Tuesday’s contest.

“We played half a game,” Bachmeier said. “I thought in the first half we still did some quality things and gave ourselves chances to score, but tonight the more intense team was the one that ended up winning.”

Bachmeier also noted that he was encouraged by the uptick in tenacity and fight his team displayed in the second 40 minutes of play, demonstrated by the lone shot on goal Minot yielded to the Demons.

Even with the final regular season game bearing little impact on Minot’s postseason standing, Bachmeier also stressed to his team, currently in possession of 11 conference wins and only one shy of the most all-time in regular-season WDA history, what is on the line Thursday evening against Dickinson High School.

“The most (games) any one team has won in the conference is 11, so we’ve got a chance to make a little bit of history that way, and I can’t wait for Thursday night.”

Opening kick for the Magi against Dickinson is slated for 7:30 p.m Thursday evening.