The Bulldog boys soccer team picked up a gritty 4-3 win in penalty kicks over Sioux City West at home on Tuesday giving the team its first MRAC victory of the season.
Le Mars got off to a great 1-0 lead thanks to a Jovany Kabongo goal but proceeded to allow three unanswered goals by the Wolverines to be down 3-1 with a half hour left in the match. A goal from Degi and Jovany Kabongo each were enough to tie the match for good. Head coach Blake Fehringer was proud that the guys were able to keep fighting to knot things up.
The Bulldogs needed to put a lot of faith late in the match in keeper John Andrea who saw plenty of shots but did not let many through. He kept the Wolverines off the board in the overtimes and stopped and allowed just one ball to get by him in the final five shootout rounds. Coach Fehringer says he has worked into the keeper position well as the season has progressed.
It took eight rounds in the shootout but after some strong saves from Andrea, it was Jackson Wells’ turn to step up to the spot. He went left and beat the keeper to clinch the win for the Bulldogs with a 5-4 edge in the shootout. Coach Fehringer says it was a great moment for a freshman who is just getting started with his soccer career.
The win brings an end to an eight-match losing streak the Bulldogs have been on all month. Coach Fehringer hopes this win proves to the guys that they can keep taking steps forward toward improvement.
The Bulldogs have five games left on their schedule, and they are all at home. The next comes on Friday, May 3 against the Yellow Jackets of Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson.
