By Angie Bland
The Dodge County Indians are on the right track this year for region playoffs. The Lady Indians took a hard loss to Thomson on Friday night, but that doesn’t diminish their hopes of coming out on top. With some extra hustling and the innate desire to outperform the others, they can still rise to the challenge. It will be tough, but definitely not impossible.
The girls had a lot of time spent on defense Friday night. After 20 minutes into the game, Brooke Best came out of goalie to run the middle of the field and stir up some support for the Lady Indians. Sydney McRee went in as goalie and held her own. She is proving to be a valuable asset to the Lady Indians and has a future with them for sure. Caitlyn Smith was doing a great job on the field but with a sore ankle it makes it hard to track down your opponent, so she eventually came out of the game.
Our offense didn’t get much time in the first half of the game. Dodge had 11 shots at goal and Thomson had six. At the end of the game, we had 18 shots to their 18. With two minutes left to go in the game, Thomson had a five to zero lead over the Lady Indians, however, they didn’t just lay down and die, the Indians kept fighting. Aja Murray from out of nowhere, got the ball to drop into the goal, pretty as you please. They turned right around and did it again. Taylor Hall, from 60 yards out, put that famous kicking leg into action and launched a pass that just got touched by Haley Holloway landing it in the goal. Our girls sometimes get down, but they never give up.
Sydney McRee punts the ball after making a save at the goalie position during the girl’s soccer game. (Photo by Jennifer Peacock Underwood)
Indians soccer teams on the right track for region playoffs
Stats for the game were Murray had six shots at goal and one goal; Best had two shots at goal, one assist, two corner kicks and three saves; Claire Peacock one shot at goal and two corner kicks; Holloway had five shots at goal and one goal; Kaitlyn Mullis had three shots at goal; Samantha Campbell had one corner kick; Hall had one assist from 60 yards out; and McRee had 13 saves. The final was five to two, Thomson.
The player of the game was Hall. She has been on the team for three years and has developed an amazing ability to return the ball to the offense. Whether it is a long return or a touch and go pass, she knows right where to put the ball.
The Dodge County Indians were geared up and ready for some action of their own after watching the girls play Thomson. Prior to this game, they were tied with Thomson and Washington County (WACO) for first place, so they really needed to win and knock Thomson off the totem pole.
The Indians were the first to score in a fight at the net. Both teams were bouncing around the ball. Thomson trying desperately to get the ball free of the goal and Dodge trying to settle the ball into the goal. Finally, Joseph Rye settled the ball into the goal. Rye had a nice head shot to the goal giving Dodge a one to zero lead. With 33 minutes left in the first half, the defenders were giving Thomson fits. Every time Thomson thought about breaking away and heading toward the goal our men outran them with their speed and continually took the ball away. Once the ball was back in their possession, the defenders easily returned it to the offense. One of the returns led to Hunter Augins receiving the ball and dribbling down for a beautiful shot and score against Thomson. Augins had three defenders approaching him when he took the shot. Dodge had the lead two to zero.
It was Thomson’s turn to make a run for the goal. Again the Dodge defenders were able to hawk him down, but this time Dodge fouled the Thomson player. As a result, Thomson was given a penalty kick where he sailed a sweet curve ball into the net for their one and only goal of the night.
After halftime, the game became a lot more intense with bragging rights on the line. Augins immediately scored with an assist from Cole Honeycutt.
Every time that the Dodge men go into a game, they go in to play with their whole heart. They know that it is not an individual effort but a team effort. They play as a team should. Coach Shelia Honeycutt and Coach Meghan McCranie ensure that they are together mentally and physically before each game. They have team bonding dinners before region games where both of the girls and boys teams are invited. This establishes a relationship among players, trainers and coaches. It shows on the field at game time.
During the Thomson game, Colby Jones and a Thomson player literally went “head to head” while going after the ball in the air. Jones ended up with a split nose. His teammates were immediately by his side lending aid. Another example is that they rely on each other’s patterns. If Walker Spradley returns the ball to Samuel Stafford, then Stafford knows that he can either cross to Brice Blocker or put it at the top of the field where Honeycutt or Augins will be making a break to get there. It has taken a lot of hours on the practice field to perfect these plays, but they trust each other immensely that they are going to be in the right place at the right time. I believe that these are the keys to the team’s success.
Stats for the game were Greg Pittman had seven saves; Honeycutt seven shots, one foul, four corner kicks and two assists; Augins four shots, two goals, one assist, two fouls and two corner kicks; Rye three shots, one goal, one foul and one major save; Jacob Holloway one shot; Jarrett Lee three shots; and Blocker two shots.
Player of the game was Jarrett Lee. He is an awesome hustler and maintains momentum in the center of the field both for defense and offense.
The player of the game was Hall. She has been on the team for three years and has developed an amazing ability to return the ball to the offense. Whether it is a long return or a touch and go pass, she knows right where to put the ball.
The Dodge County Indians were geared up and ready for some action of their own after watching the girls play Thomson. Prior to this game, they were tied with Thomson and Washington County (WACO) for first place, so they really needed to win and knock Thomson off the totem pole.
The Indians were the first to score in a fight at the net. Both teams were bouncing around the ball. Thomson trying desperately to get the ball free of the goal and Dodge trying to settle the ball into the goal. Finally, Joseph Rye settled the ball into the goal. Rye had a nice head shot to the goal giving Dodge a one to zero lead. With 33 minutes left in the first half, the defenders were giving Thomson fits. Every time Thomson thought about breaking away and heading toward the goal our men outran them with their speed and continually took the ball away. Once the ball was back in their possession, the defenders easily returned it to the offense. One of the returns led to Hunter Augins receiving the ball and dribbling down for a beautiful shot and score against Thomson. Augins had three defenders approaching him when he took the shot. Dodge had the lead two to zero.
It was Thomson’s turn to make a run for the goal. Again the Dodge defenders were able to hawk him down, but this time Dodge fouled the Thomson player. As a result, Thomson was given a penalty kick where he sailed a sweet curve ball into the net for their one and only goal of the night.
After halftime, the game became a lot more intense with bragging rights on the line. Augins immediately scored with an assist from Cole Honeycutt.
Every time that the Dodge men go into a game, they go in to play with their whole heart. They know that it is not an individual effort but a team effort. They play as a team should. Coach Shelia Honeycutt and Coach Meghan McCranie ensure that they are together mentally and physically before each game. They have team bonding dinners before region games where both of the girls and boys teams are invited. This establishes a relationship among players, trainers and coaches. It shows on the field at game time.
During the Thomson game, Colby Jones and a Thomson player literally went “head to head” while going after the ball in the air. Jones ended up with a split nose. His teammates were immediately by his side lending aid. Another example is that they rely on each other’s patterns. If Walker Spradley returns the ball to Samuel Stafford, then Stafford knows that he can either cross to Brice Blocker or put it at the top of the field where Honeycutt or Augins will be making a break to get there. It has taken a lot of hours on the practice field to perfect these plays, but they trust each other immensely that they are going to be in the right place at the right time. I believe that these are the keys to the team’s success.
Stats for the game were Greg Pittman had seven saves; Honeycutt seven shots, one foul, four corner kicks and two assists; Augins four shots, two goals, one assist, two fouls and two corner kicks; Rye three shots, one goal, one foul and one major save; Jacob Holloway one shot; Jarrett Lee three shots; and Blocker two shots.
Player of the game was Jarrett Lee. He is an awesome hustler and maintains momentum in the center of the field both for defense and offense.
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