BY FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com
Kadyn Jones had a goal and an assist on Saturday as the Bulldogs returned to their winning ways with a 2-0 triumph at home over Apollo Conference rival Lincoln.
The shutout was the fourth shutout of the season for M-S.
After a scoreless first half at Middletown Field, Jones lifted his team into the lead for good.
“The Bulldogs finally broke through with Kadyn Jones pressuring a defender to win the ball,” Bulldog coach Jeremy Davis said. “He pushed it past the defense and then struck it true to give the Dogs a 1-0 lead.”
Jones later assisted Jacob Janda for a goal to put the match out of reach.
“I was proud of how the boys adapted a bit to some adversity,” Davis said. “The field was rough after a wet Friday night football game.
“While the footing was treacherous, the Bulldogs’ possession of the ball was resplendent. Xavier Schmidt did a great job supporting the attack as a defender.”
In the junior varsity match, M-S blanked Lincoln 1-0.
Three times on Thursday, M-S responded after Mount Zion took a one-goal lead, but the best the Bulldogs could do was fight to a 3-3 draw on the Braves’ field.
The outcome left the Bulldogs without an Apollo Conference loss.
Eli Warren notched the first of his two goals to bring M-S into a 1-1 deadlock.
“Like a medieval jester, he pranced around the defenders,” Davis said. “He somehow dribbled through four defenders and then hammered it past the keeper.”
Mount Zion took a 2-1 lead into the break, scoring in the final 10 seconds of the half.
M-S netted the equalizer when Warren converted following an assist from Nate Lundstrom.
Warren has a team-high 20 goals for the season.
“With their backs against the wall (down 3-2), the midfielders rose to the occasion,” Davis said. “Lundstrom, (Logan) Woodward and (Colten) Brunner dominated the final 20 minutes.”
Woodward scored the goal that forced a 3-3 tie.
“Colten Brunner player magnificently down the stretch,” Davis added. “He came down with almost every single punt from the Braves’ keeper. It allowed the Bulldogs to keep up the pressure, but unfortunately time was not on their side.”
M-S (13-4-3) returns to action today at home at 6:30 p.m. against Normal Community. The Bulldogs will play their Senior Night match on Tuesday against Effingham, when they will try to lock up the outright Apollo Conference title.
M-S is 8-0-2 in league play.
