Niles boys soccer coach Jerry Holtgren provided a spark to his team in its 1-1 match Thursday against Marcellus.

With his team trailing 1-0, Holtgren was issued a yellow card with 25:09 left in the match. The Vikings responded with more aggressive play offensively with Cicone Palmore scoring from the right corner with 11:49 left to tie the match.

“There’s always a dual purpose in it,” said Holtgren about getting carded. “I’m not quick to anger, but part of that was that I think at that point we had 17 calls compared to four or five for Marcellus. Also, when a coach gets fired up I think players get fired up as well. It was also a message that I wanted some of the calls to go our way.”

Palmore saw a difference in his teammates after his coach got carded.

“After (Holtgren) got mad, we knew we had to pick it up so we did in the second half in the last 25 minutes,” said Palmore, who now has 13 goals on the year. “We started playing with more intensity.”

It was a good way to end the regular season for Palmore, who was one of eight Niles seniors honored before the match.

“I was near the goal, and I just shot it and got a lucky bounce off a (Marcellus) player and it went in,” Palmore said.

Niles had two good chances after Palmore score to win the match, but each time were denied a score from Marcellus goalie Connor Sonnevil. Alex Wright had a direct kick from 25 yards stopped by Sonnevil with 7:10 left in the match and Christian Rackley had his shot off of Graham Hoppstock’s corner kick stopped by Sonnevil with a minute remaining.

Marcellus jumped out quick in the second half, connecting on two shots less than two minutes into the half. The second shot produced a goal as Connor Makowski scored off of Dustin Nielson’s direct kick from 20 yards, which was deflected by Niles goalie Derek Arguello.

“I felt (the 1-0 lead) could hold up,” said Marcellus coach Tim Brown, whose team is 12-3-2. “Our strong point is our defense. The most goals that we gave up in a game this year is two. When my sweeper got the red card (in the second half) it didn’t help. My right fullback got hurt and missed the last 20 minutes and I had to have my forward play fullback. Niles also moved the ball well and it got us off stride.”

A steady rain fell throughout the match, which was scoreless after 40 minutes. Niles owned a 7-5 edge on shots in the first half.

“I just told our team to play with more intensity,” Holtgren said. “We’re a pretty good team that can play with anybody when we play with intensity. But we struggle if we don’t show up. In that first half, we were going through the motions.”

Holtgren was asked if the weather affected his team’s play.

“Absolutely not,” the Vikings coach said emphatically.

Niles, which finished the regular season 9-9-2, next hosts Three Rivers in opening round Division 2 district play Monday at 5 p.m.

“I feel pretty good about how we’re playing in general,” Holtgren said. “We’ve taken some positive steps in the last few games. We’re trying some different things offensively. I think with our backs to the wall our guys will show up.”

NILES 1, MARCELLUS 1

Halftime score

Marcellus 0, Niles 0

Second half

M – Connor Makowski (Dustin Nielson) 38:39

N – Cicone Palmore 11:4

Shots on goal: Niles 14, Marcellus 7

Goalie saves: Derek Arguello (N) 4, Connor Sonnevil (M) 7

Corner kicks: Niles 8, Marcellus 5

Records: Niles 9-9-2, Marcellus 12-3-2