Bulldogs soccer loses Senior Night, wins playoff game

The Staunton boys' soccer team ended its regular season with two losses this week against SCC opponent Carlinville and former SCC opponent Roxana on Senior Night. The team fought hard in both matches, but found itself on the unlucky side when it needed the ball to bounce their way. On the good side, the team received a favorable draw in the IHSA playoffs and took care of its first-round opponent Metro East Lutheran.

The week began on Tuesday, with a trip to Carlinville to take on a 10-win Cavie team on its own Senior Night. Carlinville began the night with an unusual lineup to accommodate its seniors. This is fairly traditional, but it did leave the team somewhat exposed early, and the Bulldogs capitalized on the opportunity. Senior striker Troy Albertina scored the game's first goal when junior midfielder Victor Buehler found him on an early cross in the second minute. It would be the team's only goal, unfortunately.

After the early blemish, Carlinville quickly regrouped, and took advantage of a defensive miscommunication that left the goal vacant. The Cavies would knot the score at one goal apiece and carry the momentum into the second half, where they did not look back. In fact, they would add three more goals to the tally before it was all said and done. Senior co-captain and goalkeeper Grant Neuhaus recorded 13 saves in the effort and was named the Player of the Game.

On Wednesday, the team had a quick turnaround and welcomed a Roxana Shell team with a similar record and composition. Prior to the game, the team honored its six senior players, Troy Albertina, Ashton Copeland, Luke DeWitt, Grant Neuhaus, Adam Overby, and Jack Pritchett, and its two senior managers, Madi Chvala (statistician) and Maddie Greer (videographer). The team thanks these seniors and their families for their commitment to the program over the years.

With the ceremony over and the game underway, it wasn't long before the Bulldogs scored first. Once again, Troy Albertina would find the back of the net with junior midfielder Dillon Pritchett assisting. Just like the previous game, the goal happened early (third minute), and unfortunately, it would be Staunton's one and only goal of the game. Roxana scored two goals before the half to take the lead, the momentum, and eventually the win.

This time, it was the Bulldogs who dominated possession, but with little to show for their efforts. Shot after shot either just missed or hit the crossbar, and Roxana was awarded a penalty kick on a play inside the box. Near the end of the game, Staunton was pressing and thought the pressure had paid off when sophomore striker Rhyse Rucker stole the ball from the goalkeeper and finally tied the game with moments to go. In a shocking turn of events, both officials convened and overturned the would-be game-tying goal claiming the Roxana keeper had the ball in his hands when it was stolen. It was a tough way to lose, especially on Senior Night.

With the regular season over, and the IHSA playoffs at hand, the Bulldogs decided to hit the reset button and focus on its first opponent, the Metro-East Lutheran Knights. On paper, the Bulldogs were the heavy favorites and had earned the higher seed, so the game was played at home on Friday. The Knights, who had been struggling to field a full team, brought exactly 11 players to the game.

Both teams played even for the first part of the first half, until Rhyse Rucker started things off with a goal from fellow striker and senior Luke DeWitt. The game seemed to be headed for a 1-0 score at halftime until the fortieth minute when both Ashton Copeland (co-captain and senior midfielder) and Luke DeWitt scored back-to-back goals to end the half. Dillon Pritchett assisted on Copeland's goal, and Rucker returned the earlier favor to DeWitt on his goal.

After the half, the team came out strong once again when DeWitt scored within the first minute (assist Copeland). DeWitt would be involved one more time when he assisted on Rucker's second goal in the 65th minute. The score was now 5-0, and the game was in hand when Staunton made a mistake in the penalty box. The Knights converted on the penalty kick to ruin the defensive clean sheet for the team.

It would have been a sour ending to an otherwise perfect game, but then the team rejoiced when sophomore defender Ethan Tew scored his first ever varsity goal with three minutes to go to put the nail in the coffin. Freshman defender Ricky Barnes was credited with the assist, as the Bulldogs advanced 6-1.

With the 1-2 record this week, the team now finds itself with a 9-11-1 record on the season and finishes with a 4-3 record in the SCC (three-way tie for third place). The team advances to the regional semifinal game this Wednesday at Roxana (6 p.m.) against the Lebanon Greyhounds, who the team met and defeated earlier this year, 2-1. If the boys can get past the Greyhounds, they will face the Griffins of Father McGivney for the Regional Title on Friday (4 p.m.).