MO Class 3 District 10: Bulldogs Fight Back To Win In PKs, Will Face Lakers

#3 Rolla Bulldogs – 3 (PKs)
#2 Waynesville Tigers – 2
In a hard fought battle worthy of these two teams and the stage they were playing on, the Bulldogs fought back from a two-goal deficit Tuesday evening and ultimately prevailed in penalty kicks, winning 5-4.

The game was fought primarily between the two goal areas in the first half, with the Tigers getting a pair of shots on goal including a goal in the 29th minute that Karl Dupont powered in from long range. The Bulldogs were held without a SOG in the first but slowly began to battle back. Not before the Tigers extended their lead in the 44th minute as Daniel Moore picked up a pass from his defense, moving up the left side unmolested before sending a square ball to Ben Moore who’s initial effort bounced off a defender and fell into his path, providing a clear shot to the far post.

It wasn’t until the 61st that the Bulldogs broke through. Jason Howard helped create the goal, challenging for a ball that a Waynesville defender ended up putting into his own net. That goal energized the Bulldogs and they continued to force the play, tying the game in the 73rd minute from a set piece. Sent into the box from midfield, the Bulldogs got 4 touches as they kept it in play at the top of the box with the fourth touch a hard shot off a Tiger’s defender by Kory Carter, whose 2nd opportunity ended up in the upper right corner.

The Tiger’s came out hard in the OT and had the best opportunity to win around the 10 minute mark of the first overtime period. Aaron Lewis’ shot to the far post was dipping but Bulldog keeper Daniel McCaddon extended fully to block the initial shot and then covered the rebound to preserve the tie. McCaddon’s describes the save in my post-game interview with him.

McCaddon would come up big again during PK’s as both teams buried their first 4 shots during the shootout. Rolla’s Joel Laney was the 5th shooter for the Bulldogs and his shot to the left was well converted which left it to the Tiger’s final shooter. His ball down the middle was blocked as McCaddon reacted to shot as he headed right initially. You can see that game-winning save and resultant celebration by the Bulldogs below.

Post-game interview with senior Daniel McCaddon re the win and penalty kick shootouts

#1 Camdenton Lakers – 3
#4 Washington Blue Jays – 0
Goals were scored by Rayder Bennett, Nate Buttram and Connor Agniel. Video of Connor’s goal is below. The first came quickly in the 7th minute, as Jeff Dorhauer sent a through ball that Bennett ran onto and slipped past the keeper who had come out to challenge. The Jay’s settled down however and began to move the ball and control play as the half went on. They came close in the 29th only to see Mark Butcher clear off the line.

Things opened up in the second half with Nate Buttram scoring to the far post after a scramble and then Connor Angiel’s goal, seen below, that was a result of a corner kick by Travis Miller. Angiel’s shot is well struck to the far post and an alert AR recognized the ball had crossed the endline.

The Lakers will play the winner of Waynesville vs. Rolla on Thursday at 6 p.m.