DECATUR -- It was a good week for the Decatur Bulldog soccer team as they posted their first conference win against Subiaco Academy after playing a tied game at home against Siloam Springs.
The Decatur Bulldogs took on the Siloam Springs Panthers in their last non-conference game of the season at Bulldog Stadium March 17.
The Panthers jumped out to an early lead at the 33-minute mark of the first half. As the match progressed, the Bulldogs began to control the ball better on defense and attempted more shots on the offense. At the two-minute mark, Brody Funk put the ball past Panther goalie Jose Yanes to tie the game at one each going into the break.
At the 39 minute mark of the second half, the Panthers struck first, getting the ball past Decatur goalie Mario Urquidi to make it a 2 to 1 match. For the next 20 minutes, both Urquidi and the Panthers goalie Yanes made several brilliant saves to prevent either team from running away with the game. However, Decatur's Jonathon Vargas found the corner of the net at the 16:50 mark to tie the game at two each. The second period ended in a tie, sending the game into overtime.
The Bulldogs played more aggressively and attempted more shots during the 10-minute overtime period. But neither team was able to score, sending the game into a possible second overtime. However, the official decided to call the game and declared a tie, ending the Bulldogs' hope for their first victory of the season.
"It was a great game today," said Barry James, Decatur soccer coach. "The defense held up and they fought, and they fought, and they fought. They are getting better. They just need to finish up on some scoring, some rules and they will come along. I like how they are coming together."
The Bulldogs fared better as they traveled south to take on the Trojans of Subiaco Academy March 20 in their first conference game of the 2015 season.
As with the Siloam Springs game, the Bulldogs and the Trojans worked to tie the game at two each at the end of regulation play.
However, two penalty kicks by Tony Mendoza and Jonathon Vargas in overtime gave the Decatur Bulldogs their first victory and their first conference win of the season. The Bulldogs are now 3 - 1- 1 overall and 1 and 0 in conference play.
The Decatur Bulldogs are off for spring break but will resume play on April 7 at 5 p.m. when Decatur takes on the Green Forest Tigers at home in Bulldog Stadium.
Sports on 03/25/2015