SILOAM SPRINGS -- The Decatur Bulldogs soccer team traveled south to take on the Panthers of Siloam Springs April 25. In a bizarre twist, the Bulldogs gave up two goals within a minute to give the Panthers a 4 to 2 victory.
In the first half, the Bulldogs came out sluggish, playing an "every man for himself" type of game rather then as a team.
"Get your head back in the game!" Coach Barry James shouted, "Concentrate guys, cover the middle of the field."
The Panthers capitalized on the Bulldogs lack of commitment and put two on the board before the end of the first period.
James called his team together at halftime and began his lecture on "accountability."
"You look terrible. You look like each man for himself and no communication," James said. "On every part of the field you look weak. Let's start at the goal."
James pointed out every weakness in each section of the field from goal-line protections to clearing the ball. He cited one example when a Decatur player was moving the ball down field toward the Siloam Springs goal. As that player reached mid-field, he was picked up by several Panthers and ultimately lost the ball. "Why?" he said. "Because there were no Decatur defenders to protect that player."
"You are all accountable for your actions on the field," James explained. "You need to take responsibility for your actions and step up and come together as a team. I want to see a totally different game out there," James concluded.
And a different game he saw as the Bulldogs took control of the second half, quickly scoring two points to tie the game at the 30 minute mark.
The Bulldogs continued to play strong until the game had just under 10 minutes to go. Then, in a bizarre twist of fate, Siloam Springs scored two points within a minute, extending their lead by two.
The Panthers took the ball down to the Decatur goal and lost the ball, or so everybody thought. For a few seconds the ball sat idle about two feet from the west side of the goal line. Both Decatur and Siloam Springs players started to walk away from the ball thinking the ball was called out. Coach James was the first to realize that it was a ball still in play.
"The ball is in play. Go get it, go get it!" James shouted.
At the same time, the Panther coach realized the ball was still in play and shouted at his players to get the ball. With the Decatur goalie at the far side of the net walking away from the ball and leaving an open net, a Siloam Springs player, heeding his coach's words, ran toward the ball and kicked it in for an easy score, catching the Bulldog players completely off guard, so much so that Siloam Springs turned around and scored another point within a minute of the first.
Decatur tried hard to make up the two-point deficit by attempting several goals, all of which missed the net. The game ended in a 4 to 2 victory for the Panthers.
"You did what I asked and played a much better second half," James stated. "Now we have to get ready for the two games next week."
The Decatur Bulldog soccer team will play their final home games on May 1 against Rogers Heritage and May 2 against Prairie Grove. Game time for each is at 5 p.m.
Sports on 04/30/2014