Bulldogs soccer struggles to score; goes 1-3 in busy week

 

September 28, 2022

Brad Neuhaus

Ford Klocke has possession for Staunton/Bunker Hill vs. Hillsboro.

The Staunton boys' soccer team had another busy week this week with four games in six days. The first two were at home against Pleasant Plains and Hillsboro, and the latter two were on the road at North Mac and Breese Central. Both the Hillsboro and the North Mac games were South Central Conference games.

To begin, the team welcomed the Pleasant Plains Cardinals on Monday, along with a stifling heat and no breeze, which made for some pretty miserable game-time conditions. Both teams agreed to take water breaks at the midway marks of both halves. Unfortunately, the extra break did little to help stem the tide for the Bulldogs. The Cardinals dominated possession of the ball and passed, moved, and communicated so well that it was easy to see how they carried a 4-0 lead into the half.

It was more of the same in the second half as the Cardinals poured it on even stronger. The Bulldogs gave up a quick goal in the 43rd minute, but then held their own for the most of the half, before Plains added two more to cut the time in half.

It was a disheartening loss to say the least, but the silver lining this time was that senior co-captain and goalkeeper Grant Neuhaus had 19 saves in the effort.

With no time to sulk, the team welcomed the Hillsboro Hiltoppers on Tuesday. Once again, the game-time conditions were brutally hot and both teams agreed to take water breaks halfway through each half.

Unfortunately for Staunton, the game started much like the previous one, with one exception, this time the halftime score was a 5-0 lead for the SCC opponents. It seemed like the team was reaching its breaking point.

Thankfully, the team's captains each gave an impassioned halftime speech, and that seemed to galvanize the team as a whole.

Hillsboro would add two more goals to cut the time in half, and claim the victory, but the Bulldogs held their heads high with pride. They had held a fairly dominant team to only two goals in the second half.

After back-to-back blowouts, the team was eager to get back to work Wednesday at practice. The boys focused on fundamental skills and working together as a team. It seemed to pay off for them as they traveled to Virden, Thursday, for another SCC game against the conference's newest addition. The Panthers filled the opening left when Roxana left.

Luckily for all involved, the weather broke on Thursday as the first official day of fall brought a 20-degree drop in the temperature. Instead of asking for water breaks or any kind of breaks at all, the starters were able to play harder and for longer. Staunton was entering the game as the favorites this time, and it was a welcomed change to be the team dominating the possession.

In all, the team peppered the North Mac goalie with 19 shots on goal, and pressured the Panthers to the point where they struggled to move the ball past their half, at times. Unfortunately, those 19 shots were not translating into goals, and the team's frustration started to show.

It wasn't until the 20th minute that sophomore midfielder Ethan Sharp sent a ball sailing over the goalkeeper's head and into the back of the net. It was a much-needed goal, and it would prove to be the game-winning goal as well, as the team would escape with a 1-0 victory over the Panthers.

To finish the week, the team traveled to Breese on Saturday to face the Central Cougars in a non-conference matchup. The Cougars and the Bulldogs entered the match with similar records, but the Cougars were the clear favorites, as their sub-.500 record was mostly due to their strength of schedule.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the Cougars came out strong and dominated, much like Plains and Hillsboro had. The Cougars star player, Cody Dickshot, scored or assisted on all six goals for Breese. Even with a pre-game emphasis on defending him, Cody was still able to use his speed and ability to make his game look effortless.

Brad Neuhaus

Jack Pritchett (#15) makes his move against Hillsboro.

At times, it seemed like Murphy's Law for the Bulldogs, as several breakaway shots and headers just so happened to find the Central goalkeeper in the exact position he needed to be. The boys were able to move and pressure the Cougar defense, but their 10 shots on goal were all denied. Breese would win 6-0.

After such a disheartening week where the team's pride and mental fortitude were pushed to the limit, the team now looks forward to its remaining four regular-season games over the next two weeks. Hopefully, the extreme heat is behind us, and the fall weather is here to stay. This week, the team takes on two more SCC opponents as it travels to Greenville on Tuesday, and hosts Pana on Thursday.

With the 1-3 result this week, the team now finds itself with a 6-9-1 record on the season and a 2-2 record in the SCC.

 

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