At long last and after three cancelled games due to weather conditions, the 2013 Dodge Soccer Season is off and running. Dodge County High School (DCHS) hosted Fitzgerald on Wednesday, February 27, 2013.
Brooke Best started the festivities by singing the National Anthem.
Within minutes of the game beginning, Mitch Tanner got a free kick that resulted in a beauty of a goal from beyond midfield. The ball was untouched by anyone on the field.
The next goal was within five minutes with Hunter Augins scoring. Dodge was up two to zero and it looked like it was going to be a runaway game.
However, Fitzgerald remembered all too well that Dodge came away with a win last season that ended in penalty kicks, therefore they came charging back to score their own goals leaving it tied at half-time.
Maybe it was the weather, but the Indians could not keep the Hurricanes from beating down the path to the goal time after time in the second half.
The final score ended up being seven to two, Hurricanes favor and a heartbreaking season opener for the Dodge County Indians.
Player of the game was Mitch Tanner.
On Friday night, March 1, 2013, we traveled to Washington County, where the Indians took the previous loss to heart. Washington County (WACO) was our region opener and a tough opponent.
Once again, Tanner opened the game with a quick goal within seconds of the game starting, surprising our opponents.
WACO quickly started driving for goals of their own, but our defenders and goalkeeper, Greg Pittman, were on their “a-game” that night.
Seth Palmer, Calen Dennis, Walker Spradley and Jaye Moye did a phenomenal job of returning the ball to our offense.
Teamwork paid off and Hunter Augins was able to score the second goal of the game, thanks to help from Jordan Cook and John Burrows.
Indians were up two to zero within the first five minutes of the game. This game would be different though. WACO did manage to even up the score and we were tied going into halftime. Sound familiar?
Coming off the bench with fresh legs after half, WACO scored yet another goal making it three to two. Because of a foul committed by WACO, Augins received a free kick from the right side of the field and when the ball left his foot, it curved beautifully into the goal untouched by any of WACO’s defenders. This once again tied the game at three to three.
WACO received the ball and Honeycutt was determined that WACO would not get another chance to score, so he made a great steal, taking the ball away from WACO’s defenders robbing them of any chance at a win. He passed the ball to Augins who in turn passed the ball to Jake Ruffin. Ruffin made the final goal of the evening to secure the Indian victory.
Other outstanding plays were made by freshman, Brice Blocker, who made several steals during the game.
Injuries that occurred during the game were: Seth Palmer, ankle; Joseph Rye, ankle and Mitch Tanner who took a kick to the face. Tanner was out for the entire second half.
Players of the game go to the bench. When our starters came out due to injury or a much-needed rest, the bench was ready to play. They were supportive of the players on the field and for the injured and willing to help in any situation. That is the true meaning of team.
Player of the week goes to goalkeeper, Greg Pittman, for 16 saves during the WACO game.
Stats for the players for both games are as follows:
Hunter Augins, three goals, six steals, five corner kicks, and four attempts at goal; Greg Pittman, 16 saves and three steals; Jaye Moye, two steals; Brice Blocker, two steals and one attempt at goal; Cole Honeycutt, three steals; Calen Dennis, one steal; Jordan Cook, three attempts at goal; Mitch Tanner, two goals, six attempts at goal and two steals; Jake Ruffin, one goal, one steal and four attempts at goal; Joseph Rye, one attempt at goal and Maurice Clark, one steal.