LINCOLN -- The Lady Bulldogs began week two of the 2023 soccer season on the road as the team traveled to Lincoln on March 13 for a showdown at Wolves Stadium against the Lady Wolves. By the end of the 80-minute match, the Lady Bulldogs emerged victorious with their first conference win of the season.
The Decatur girls went on the offensive for most of the first half, with the only score occurring when Sunshine Thor found an opening in the Lady Wolves' defensive line and put a shot past the Lincoln goaltender into the net for a goal. The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead going into the break.
Lincoln tried to go on the offensive in the second half, but the Decatur defensive line and goalie held fast, denying the Lady Wolves any attacks on the Lady Bulldogs' goal.
The only other scoring opportunity came early in the half when Heaven McGarrah picked up the ball in Decatur territory and drove the ball downfield and into the Lincoln goal. The match ended with the Decatur Lady Bulldogs claiming the conference win, 2-0, over the Lincoln Lady Wolves.
After a week off for spring break, the Decatur Lady Bulldogs return to Bulldog Stadium in Decatur on March 28 for the first home match of the season -- against the Eureka Springs Lady Highlanders. Decatur hits the road to Bentonville on March 29 for a match with the Thaden Lady Barnstormers. Start time for both matches is 5 p.m.
BOYS
Decatur 1, Lincoln 1
The Decatur boys took on the Lincoln Wolves March 13 for the only match of week two of the 2023 soccer season. And history repeated itself once again as the match ended in a tie.
Both teams made several unsuccessful runs on the nets during the first period. Around the halfway mark, Decatur's Bryan Ruiz found the Lincoln gosling out of position and fired the ball into the net for the first goal of the contest. The Bulldogs managed to hold onto their 1-0 lead for the remainder of the half.
The Wolves managed to fire a shot just past Decatur goalie Ben Watkins to tie the match in the second period. And the match ended in a 1-1 tie.
The Bulldogs return to action after a week-long spring break with their first home match of the season -- against the Eureka Springs Highlanders on March 28 at Bulldog Stadium, with a 7 p.m. start time. The Bulldogs then hit the road for a pair of conference contests -- the first is March 29 against the Thaden Barnstormers in Bentonville, and the second is March 31 in Rogers against Haas Hall. Both contests are scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.
Mike Eckels/Special to the Eagle Observer
Bulldog Kenneth Barrios (No. 15) moves the ball past a Wolf defender as he finds a clear shot to the corner of the Wolves' goal during the first half of the Lincoln-Decatur conference soccer showdown at Wolves Stadium in Lincoln March 13. Unfortunately for Barrios, the Wolves goalie closed up the gap and managed to block the ball, preventing a Bulldog score.
Mike Eckels/Special to the Eagle Observer
After holding the ball near the sideline for a second, Lady Bulldog Sunshine Thor (right) prepares to move the ball downfield and away from an advancing Lady Wolf player during the March 13 Lincoln-Decatur girls' soccer match at Wolves Stadium in Lincoln. Thor made one of the Lady Bulldogs' two goals to take the conference win, 2-0, over the Lady Wolves.
Mike Eckels/Special to the Eagle Observer
As Sunshine Thor (No. 2) moves up to assist, Lady Bulldog Shylee Morales (No. 1) prepares to pass the ball away from a Lady Wolf offensive player during the Lincoln Decatur girls' soccer match in Lincoln on March 13. The Lady Bulldogs took their first conference win, defeating the Lady Wolves 2-0.