The Le Mars Community boys soccer season came to an end on Tuesday night with a 3-2 home loss to Storm Lake in the substate semifinal round.
The Bulldogs were playing the game incredibly shorthanded due to injuries and other commitments. Throughout the final 20 minutes of the first half, Le Mars was without four of their 11 regular starters on the pitch. Head coach Blake Fehringer says even with a tough hand dealt, his guys came through and played a great match.
Le Mars’ defense kept them in the game most of the night. Storm Lake was peppering the net with shots throughout the first half but only managed to score one goal. Coach Fehringer says there were many guys who stepped up to fill big shoes in big spots.
The Bulldogs were playing shorthanded in the forward line as well after an injury to Jovany Kabongo with roughly 21 minutes left in the first half. That meant someone else was going to have to take the goal-scoring role. Jacob Plueger did that scoring both of Le Mars’ goals in the match. Coach Fehringer says he took advantage of the opportunity.
In the end, Le Mars trailed 3-1 with 90 seconds remaining in regulation. In that final minute and a half, the Bulldogs managed to score a goal to cut the deficit to one and miss an equalizing goal by mere inches. Coach Fehringer says that epitomizes a senior class that never gave up until the final whistle sounded.
The Bulldogs end their best season in school history with a record of 9-6-1. Storm Lake advances to take on Spencer on Thursday with a trip to state on the line.
