SHS loses opener

Young Bulldogs come out timid, give up four goals

FRUITLAND -- The Sikeston Bulldogs kicked off their soccer season on Tuesday afternoon at Saxony Lutheran suffering a 4-0 loss to the Crusaders.

For the Bulldogs it was a game of uncertainty as they are filling in holes across the field from graduated seniors of 2007.

Sikeston's Darin Dicus tries to shield the ball from a Saxony defender on Tuesday afternoon.

Sikeston's Darin Dicus tries to shield the ball from a Saxony defender on Tuesday afternoon.

"I didn't know we would come out as shell-shocked or as timid as we came out," said Sikeston head coach Derrick Long following the season opener. "They got a couple of early goals on us in the first half before we even started hustling out there. We kind of got back on our heels in the beginning and got down in a hole -- Saxony was a better team tonight."

The Crusaders got things going early as Andrew Etzold put the home team on the board just a few minutes into the game. Before the half, Ross Gage tacked on another goal and Sikeston trailed 2-0 at the break.

"We knew that they were going to be pretty tough," said Long. "They had most of their returning starters back from last year and they won 14 or 15 games (in 2007)."

In the second half the Crusaders didn't let up as they put in one more goal from Mark Buerck before adding another one via a penalty kick from Garrett Fritsche with just minutes to play. The final score was in Saxony Lutheran's favor 4-0.

"They (Saxony) were prepared and ready to go," Long said. "They beat us to the ball most of the night. We're going to have to out-work teams this year because we're so young and green. If we're not out there out-working and out-hustling teams then we're not going to win a lot of games this year. These guys are going to have to step up and show a little heart out there."

"But, it is the first game and I'm not going to get too frustrated yet. We've got 24 or 25 more games, so hopefully we can just tweak something here and there and come out the next time and have a better showing."

Saxony head coach Ryan Schweain said that his club was well-prepared for the contest and was ready to take on a school much larger than their own.

"For the first game, I thought we played pretty well," said Schweain. "Overall, we hustled and I know that they gave it 100 percent. It was our first time playing a bigger school like Sikeston and I know they were pumped. They did well and just did the stuff that we've been working on in practice."

The Bulldogs will have a few days of practice before heading up to the Notre Dame Soccerfest in Cape Girardeau on Thursday. Sikeston's first contest is against Carbondale at 5:30 p.m.