M-S soccer season comes to end in overtime loss to state-ranked Normal West

Third-seeded Normal West ousted fifth-seeded Mahomet-Seymour on Wednesday (Oct. 20) in a Class 2A boys’ soccer regional semifinal game at Normal West.

The host Wildcats – ranked ninth in the state – needed two overtimes to post a 2-1 triumph.

Normal West (16-3-6) led, 1-0, at halftime, but the Bulldogs (15-8-1) scored the equalizer in the second half.

“The boys did a great job filling gaps all year with injuries and players sidelined for various reasons,” M-S coach Jeremy Davis said. “It was only the second game we’ve fielded a full roster this year. 

“The boys did a great job improving this season. Two months ago, we got smacked in our own tournament with a 3-0 loss to Washington. That team went on to lose to West in the championship. They improved these last two months and played well tonight, we just fell a goal short.”

For the season, three Bulldogs reached double figures in goals scored: Anthony Ramirez, Titus Payne and Sam Henrichs.

Payne and Clayton Gibson both reached double figures for the year in assists for the Apollo Conference runner-up team.

In all, 22 squad members had at least one goal or one assist.

For the year, M-S outscored its opponents, 86-23. M-S was especially strong defensively in the final eight matches, outscoring the opposition 43-7.

Ten of the team’s season wins were by shutouts.