DECATUR -- Over the past 20 years, soccer has been on the rise in both spectators and participation, particularly among the growing Hispanic population. In the high school ranks it rivals football as a popular sport.
Soccer is a relatively new sport at Decatur High School, and this season the soccer program has a new head coach.
Berry James takes over the program from James Garner, who coached the Bulldogs last year. James has high expectations for his team as they played their first game at home March 14 at Bulldog Stadium.
"I expect to have a really good team this year," James stated. "We have had a lot of guys come out for practice and, based on the attendance at practice and the improvements I have seen, I think we will have a pretty good soccer season."
The Bulldogs will play 16 games this season, eight at home and eight away. The first game was scheduled for March 3 at home but, due to that weekend's winter storm, the game was canceled.
The Bulldogs' opponent for the first game of the season was the Subiaco Academy Trojans. The Bulldogs suffered from a case of the opening-game jitters as they allowed the Trojans to score 5 points in the first half. However, in the second half, they started to come together as a team, blocking shots and taking the ball to the goal. But Subiaco made an additional 3 goals and shut out the Bulldogs 8 to 0.
A complete list of Bulldog soccer games can be found at decatursd.com/athletics .
Sports on 03/19/2014