Sikeston loses in double OT to Jackson

Jackson players and coaches mob Michael Depuy after punching in the double overtime winner over the Sikeston Bulldogs on Tuesday while the Sikeston Bulldogs walk off the pitch. Jackson won the game 4-3. (Photo by Chris Pobst, Staff)

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- What could have been a statement win, turned out to slip right through their fingers.

The Sikeston Bulldogs fell to one of the area's perennial favorites, the Jackson Indians, on Tuesday, 4-3, during a wild two-overtime match at the Sikeston Sports Complex.

"It was an exciting game," Sikeston coach Doyle Noe said. "You hate to lose it but I was pleased with the effort."

With 4:17 left in the second overtime, Jackson's Michael Depuy followed a rebound with a perfect shot that sped right past Sikeston keeper Michael Gipson for the clincher.

"We had the ball in the midfield and we held it too long," Noe said about Jackson's game winner. "(Jackson's) quick and aggressive. They countered and took advantage. They picked up a deflection and hit it in with a great shot."

The Bulldogs (8-4) tied the game late in the second half when Hunter Williams punched in his second goal of the night after catching a ball in front of the net that was ping-ponged around.

Even though the first overtime went without any goals, there wasn't a lack of excitement.

Gipson came up big with two saves to keep Sikeston's hopes alive -- one being a penalty kick stop on a shot by Ryan Schlick.

Gipson, again, halted a Jackson scoring chance with 15 seconds remaining in the first overtime.

Although Jackson controlled the ball for most of the first half, Sikeston managed to put one on the board first.

Off a corner kick from Josh Bill, Brandon Goodwin came rushing in towards the net on a perfectly placed pass by Bill giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage.

Jackson, however, roared back within the first 10 minutes of the second half. Schlick tied the game at 1-1 in the 32nd minute while Law Duncan put the Indians ahead 2-1 in the 30th minute.

"They busted open a few times on us," said Noe. "Our defense, which has been really working hard over our last few games, kind of fell back on their heels for a moment. You can't give a good team like that chances."

Three minutes later, Williams tied the match off a rebound from a Tyler McClinton shot.

Alex Bolen put Jackson up 3-2 in the 20th minute with a header that bounced around Sikeston's net.

"I think this game showed that we're not going to back down from anyone," Noe said. "We showed that we can hang with some of the powers around here."