M-S Soccer claims Bulldog Invitational title
By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com
Mahomet-Seymour’s boys’ soccer team, which had only scored on penalty kicks in its first two matches, had four players find the back of the net on Saturday as the Bulldogs won the championship in their own four-team invitational at Middletown Field.
M-S (2-1-1) opened the tournament with a 4-1 conquest of Mount Zion, a match which also counted in the Apollo Conference standings.
Two minutes into the match, Jake Janda scored on an assist from Logan Woodward.
Before the first half ended, Woodward and Nate Lundstrom also hit goals, both of which were assisted by Eli Warren.
The final goal was scored by Evan Coleman, also assisted by Warren.
Goalkeeper Keagon Ashby yielded just one goal in Saturday’s two matches.
In the title match, M-S and Normal West fought to a 0-0 draw after 80 minutes of regulation play.
Defense dominated throughout regulation. M-S managed four shots and Normal West had two attempts.
In the first round of the shootout, each school hit four of five attempts.
In the second round of the shootout, the Bulldogs and Wildcats were once again tied entering the 10th shot.
“Senior Captain Caleb Benedict got his first moments on the field all day,” M-S coach Jeremy Davis said. “He convinced his coach that he was the man for the job. He stepped up and executed perfectly, putting his goal into the back of the net as the keeper dove to the other side.”
Normal West still had one attempt remaining, with the chance to pull even.
“In the final shot, Keagon Ashby once again read the play and was able to make the save to give the Bulldogs the trophy,” Davis said.
On Thursday, M-S dropped a 2-1 decision to Centennial despite holding a 12-5 edge on shots.
The lone M-S goal was on a second-half penalty kick by Warren after the Chargers had built a 2-0 lead.
The M-S junior varsity improved its record to 2-0 with a 3-0 win over Centennial.
The Bulldogs return to action in the two-day Urbana Invitational, which starts on Friday.
