Bulldogs win their first two games of season

Photo by Mike Eckels With David Lopez (Decatur #10) as back up, Reyna Marciel (#1) fights to keep the ball away from a Panther player during the Decatur-Bergman soccer match at Bulldog Stadium in Decatur April 19. The Bulldogs pulled off their first win of the season, 8 to 0.
Photo by Mike Eckels With David Lopez (Decatur #10) as back up, Reyna Marciel (#1) fights to keep the ball away from a Panther player during the Decatur-Bergman soccer match at Bulldog Stadium in Decatur April 19. The Bulldogs pulled off their first win of the season, 8 to 0.

DECATUR -- In a driving rain, the Decatur soccer team posted its first victory of the 2016 season. The Bulldogs took on the Bergman Panthers at Bulldog Stadium April 19. In spite of only having nine players, the Panthers decided to play the match.

The Bulldogs were the first to score on a corner kick by David Lopez with only 10 minutes elapsing off the clock. Decatur would score five more times before the end of the half.

With the rain becoming heavy at times, officials and coaches decided to play a 20-minute half. The only score came on a goal by Decatur's Sebastian Perez. The match ended with Decatur taking its first victory of the season, 7 to 0.

Kevin Maciel scored three goals, while teammates David Lopez scored two and Perez scored one. The other point was made on a penalty kick.

"What I liked is the passing. We had some very good passes, some very good finishes," said Barry James, Decatur soccer coach. "I hope that this will give the guys a little more confidence. Hopefully, we can move forward from here."

Moving forward is just what the Bulldogs did as they traveled to meet the Lead Hill Tigers April 22 and took a 2-1 win and the team's second victory of the season.

The Bulldogs were to be in action against the Huntsville Eagles April 26 and the Prairie Grove Tigers May 3 for their final two home matches of the season. The Prairie Grove match will be senior night at Bulldog Stadium. The Bulldogs will finish their 2016 soccer season in an away match at Dardanelle on May 6. All three matches begin at 5 p.m.

Sports on 04/27/2016