DECATUR -- This season proved to be a challenge for the Decatur Bulldog soccer team as it finished the 2017 regular season and prepared for the 4A district tournament. The weather, no coach and conflict with other sports were among the hurdles the Bulldogs had to overcome. But a bit of welcome news for the program came as Decatur pulled off an upset of the Bergman Panthers before a home crowd on April 25.
Rain and thunderstorms throughout the month of April forced the cancellation and rescheduling of many matches, both at home and on the road. Heavy rain and a soccer field that resembled a swimming pool forced the cancellation of the April 24 home game against Lead Hill, originally scheduled for April 21 but canceled earlier in the season due to rain. However, the Bulldogs were able to sneak in a match ahead of more heavy rain.
The April 25 match with Bergman was pushed up to 6 p.m. to give the Bulldog track team time to return home. Several key players, including Bracy Owens, Jimmy Mendoza and Sebastian Perez, spent much of the day in Harrison for the distinct 1A track meet, which both the boys and girls won.
The stars of this match were Owens, who won the pole vault event only hours earlier; Mendoza, who won the high jump; and Kelvin Moreno, who was content just to play soccer.
Decatur went on the offensive early in the match, repeatedly attacking the Bergman goal over and over until the 10 minute mark in the first half when Owens slipped the ball into the corner of the net for the Bulldogs' first score. Five minutes later, Owens found the net once again for his second point of the match. Owens' pair of goals were the only points in the first half, allowing Decatur to take a 2-0 lead going into the second half.
Owens scored two more goals in the second half before Bergman was able to slip a pair of goals past goal keeper Lauro Molina, in his first match in that position. These were the only scores for the Panthers. Shortly after the second goal, James Garner, head soccer coach, replaced Molina, who made several key saves during the first half, with veteran goal keeper Sebastian Perez.
Decatur scored two more goals by Mendoza and two by Moreno to end the match with an 8-2 victory and the first win of the season.
Provided there is no more rain, the Bulldogs will play four matches, two at home and two on the road. For updates to the schedule, call Decatur High School at 752-3983.
Sports on 05/03/2017