Dogies get first conference win
It was a big week for the Dogie soccer team last week, as they picked up their first conference point with a tie against Torrington on Thursday, then three more points as they grabbed their first conference win of
the season against Rawlins on Saturday.
Head coach Sally Hoover’s squad went into the contest on Thursday with a good game plan, prepared to mitigate the Trailblazers’ biggest threat. The plan worked as the Dogies held Torrington scoreless in the first half.
On the other side of the field, the Dogies were able to get on the board 13 minutes into the first half as Sam Cunningham capitalized on a lazy pass by the ‘Blazer goalie, by intercepting it and knocking it into the back of the net.
“Often when the goalie gets the ball, we expect them to punt it out, so we get back,” Hoover began. “But this time Sam waited and was in the right place at the right time, and it paid off.”
The Dogies took the 1-0 lead into the half, but 12 minutes into the second half, Torrington’s top player got away from the defense to tie things up, 1-1.
Unfortunately, the ‘Blazers used their momentum to get another one in soon after to go up 2-1. With nine minutes to go, the Dogies fouled a ‘Blazer player in the box, and they finished on the PK to go up 3-1.
“It was a little frustrating, because they weren’t a better team than us, we were just making little mistakes,” Hoover said. “We weren’t collecting well and we weren’t talking.”
With four minutes to play, Finn Gerlag took the ball down the middle of the field, past the defenders, to score his first goal of the game to close the gap to 2-3.
Then, with six seconds to play, the Dogies were fouled in the box and Gerlag capitalized on the PK to tie the contest at 3-3. From there a shootout ensued. Gerlag scored on his kick and a ‘Blazer answered back by getting one in as well. Zach Orsborn was the next shooter for Newcastle and he missed, but Will Beastrom saved the next shot by the ‘Blazers, so the shootout remained at a 1-1 tie. Unfortunately, Newcastle was not able to get another one in while Torrington scored twice more to take the 3-1 shootout victory.
“I think the boys panicked a little after they came back and tied the game,” Hoover chuckled. “We just didn’t shoot on frame, which is frustrating.”
Although the loss was disappointing, Hoover insisted that to tie with them was huge for her team. The ‘Blazers are No. 2 in the East Conference and they tied with Worland, who is No. 1 in the state. In addition, Newcastle got a point for the tie, and that seemed to be motivation for the squad in their contest on Saturday.
“Against Rawlins, a big focus for us was not to give up back-to-back goals,” Hoover began. “They came out within the first two minutes and scored a goal against us, but then we settled in and didn’t let them score again in the first half, so that was great.”
Once again, the Dogies were prepared for the Outlaws, knowing that what they lack in size, they more than make up for with speed, and their preparation paid off.
Gerlag got a breakaway in the 22nd minute and he beat the last couple defenders to score easily.
Six minutes later, Dylan McFarlin did a throw-in to Gerlag on the Outlaws’ back line and he knocked that one in as well.
Finally, with one and a half minutes remaining in the half, Caden Esposito had a run down the left side, and took a nice shot. The keeper stopped it, but it bounced off him and Colter Christensen was there with the rebound to put it into the back of the net.
The Dogies took the 3-1 lead into the locker room, and in the second half the Dogies dominated the Outlaws in possessing the ball.
“The boys were just really confident and they played really well,” Hoover said. “We got the advantage and we played better, while Rawlins kind of fell apart.”
The Dogies controlled the second half of the contest, limiting Rawlins’ opportunities on offense. Even though Newcastle wouldn’t put another one in the back of the net, they were able to hold the Outlaws from scoring.
With 13 minutes to play, the Dogies fouled Rawlins in the box, and they were able to score on the PK to close the gap to one, but Newcastle held on for the 3-2 win.
“We learned our lesson in Gering, and we successfully killed the clock this time,” Hoover said. “We were making sure that we were clearing the ball all the way down the field, and we didn’t give them opportunities to score.”
The success of the week leaves the door open for the Dogies to secure a state berth. They need to win against Buffalo and Douglas this week in order to do so, and they need a little help from other teams, but Hoover is hopeful her team can continue to play well to punch their ticket to the state tournament.
Buffalo comes to town on Tuesday, and Douglas will be here on Thursday to close out the regular season.
