Tuesday night's game at Chris Hotop Field played out like a two-act melodrama.
First the "villains" held sway, in this case played more benignly by Southern Boone. The Eagles had Mexico tied …
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Tuesday night's game at Chris Hotop Field played out like a two-act melodrama.
First the "villains" held sway, in this case played more benignly by Southern Boone. The Eagles had Mexico tied down and helpless 5-0 at the half.
But as in all such productions, you know there's a comeback in order.
In the second half Mexico's defense stiffened. Goalkeeper Emille Scanavino and the Bulldogs' back line fended off what had been a potent Southern Boone attack.
With 27:00 remaining in the game, the Bulldogs got one back. Eagles defenders went to the ground to deflect a ball in the box. It fell to Alex Guzman, who hammered it into the back of the net from 15 yards out.
"That goal got everyone hyped up," Guzman said.
Haden Frazier drilled a shot just wide. Dominic McKeown looped a nifty cross toward Frazier, lurking inside the six-yard box. But Southern Boone goalkeeper Aidan Bukowsky intervened.
With 12:43 to go Frazier -- often harried by swarming defenders -- found himself unmarked at the top of the 18. With his back to the goal he controlled the ball, turned sharply and lined it into the netting.
But the Eagles had visited goal in between, making it a 6-2 game. Still, the Bulldogs continued to press.
"We kept our heads in the game," Guzman pointed out.
At the 8:58 mark it paid off. Awarded a free kick, McKeown looked around for a target then decided to go for goal. From about 30 yards out he lobbed the ball past Bukowsky, cutting Southern Boone's advantage to 6-3.
"That was just many reps in practice paying off," said McKeown, who last season scored from midfield on a similar maneuver.
The Eagles added a last minute goal that tipped the balance to 7-3. In terms of a storyline, Southern Boone dominated the first half, but the Bulldogs claimed the second 3-2.
"We played much better in the second half," head coach Bill Gleeson observed. "We have to come out with that intensity in the first."
McKeown agreed.
"We won a half," he said. "I wish we were in it earlier."