DECATUR — After struggling through a losing 2016 season, the Decatur Bulldog soccer team is finally back on track as it opened its first home game of 2017 against the Eureka Springs Highlanders March 30.
The Bulldogs opened their season on the road when they traveled to Subiaco March 28 to take on the Subiaco Trojans.
The Trojans dominated the Bulldogs throughout the contest, quickly taking control of the first half and outscoring Decatur, 5-0, going into the halftime. The Bulldog defense stepped up during the second half, shutting down the Trojans offensive game through much of the second half. But the Trojans were able to squeeze two shots past the Decatur goalie, taking a 7-0 lead and the win, and handing the Bulldogs their first 4A conference loss of the season. The Bulldogs moved on to their next contest at home.
A light rain fell in Decatur March 30 as the Bulldogs took the soccer field at Bulldog Stadium for their second 4A conference match against the Highlanders of Eureka Springs. After the loss to Subiaco, Decatur coaches Uli Moreno and James Garner worked out a few kinks in the game plan and they were ready for the Highlander contest.
These changes worked well for Decatur, and the team quickly took command of the match. Last season, the Bulldogs had problems attacking the net and lost most of their games. The Bulldogs have finally overcome this problem and they consistently attacked the net several times during much of the first half.
But late in the half, Eureka Springs slipped a shot past Decatur goalie Sebastian Perez for the first point of the match.
As time wound down, Jafett Puga gained control of the ball deep in Bulldog territory and drove it all the way to the Eureka net and past the Highlander goalie for Decatur's first point. The half ended with a 1-1 tie going into the break.
The Bulldogs continued to control the match with a pair of goals by Puga and Jimmy Mendoza, taking a 3-1 lead. At the 4:21 mark, the Bulldogs let their guard down, allowing a Highlanders offensive player to hit the inside of the net for their second score. Two minutes later, the Highlanders scored again to tie the game, 3-3. The match ended with the tie sending it into a shootout.
Five players from each team went one-on-one with the opposing goals. The team with the most points won the contest.
Decatur's Marck Guadarrama and Alexis Gramajo hit their shots, as well as two of Eureka's players, to tie the shootout, 2-2. On the last two shots of the contest, Eureka Springs' goalie (one of the Highlanders' chosen shooters) slipped the ball past Perez to take a 3-2 advantage. Decatur's Jimmy Mendoza stepped up to the line to tie the match. His shot was deflected by the Highlanders' goalie, giving Eureka Springs the win.
The Bulldogs are now 0-2 in conference play going into the second week of the season.
The Bulldogs will play a long series of road games before returning to Decatur April 21 for the final home match of the 2017 and senior night. For a complete schedule of Decatur Bulldogs soccer matches, go to decatursd.com/athletics.
Sports on 04/05/2017