September 18, 2013
Bulldogs fall 1-0 to Cape Central in OT
Cape Central scored with less than four minutes less in overtime to hand Sikeston a loss.
By Brent Shipman -- Standard Democrat
sports@standard-democrat.com
CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Just when it looked like the Sikeston Bulldogs were going to force Cape Central into a shootout for the second time this season on Tuesday, things took a turn in the Tigers' favor.
On what looked to be a routine clearing play, Cape Central was able to draw a penalty kick with less than four minutes left in the second overtime before sinking the game-winning goal for a 1-0 win.
"It's tough to lose, but if you watched the game we really didn't have a lot of urgency up top to finish goals," Sikeston head coach Doyle Noe said. "I think some of our offensive players are just willing to put it back on the defense and expect them to play 100 minutes without giving up a goal.
"You can't allow that to happen."
It was the Bulldogs who came out on top 3-2 in penalty kicks just over two weeks ago in the teams' last meeting at the Notre Dame SoccerFest. With neither squad able to generate too many opportunities up top on Tuesday, all signs pointed to another shootout.
A scoreless 80 minutes of regulation was followed by an equally quiet first overtime. Only four minutes remained in the second and final overtime when, with the ball on Sikeston's end, the Tigers hurled the ball down the right sideline toward Bulldog goalkeeper Caleb Hampton.
With no one within 20 yards of him, Hampton came out to snatch up the loose ball and send it back downfield, only to see a Cape Central forward sprinting in from the left side of the field to force a play.
The Tigers' forward got to the ball a step of ahead of Hampton just inside the end zone, but before he could get a shot off the two got tangled up as both players wound up on the turf.
Cape Central was awarded a undefended penalty kick from the center of the box because of the play and senior Duncan McKinley was given the honor of attempting the game-winner.
McKinley's kick went in just inside the right goal post to even the season series with the Bulldogs.
"The guy was in front of Caleb and he grabbed the guy a little bit to try and get himself in front of him," Noe said. "I hate to see a game end like that, especially in double overtime, but there's not much I can argue as far as the PK."
With so much going on after the initial call, Cape Central head coach Dan Martin was pleased to see McKinley focus on his shot and send his team home with a win.
"That was a solid penalty kick by him," said Martin, who's team if currently 5-6. "He was very composed with a lot going on. When you have two coaches talking to the officials it was very good for him to keep his composure."
The loss represents Sikeston's second-straight after falling 4-0 Monday to Perryville in their first home game of the season. The Bulldogs currently sit at 6-4-1 on the year having played 10 of their first 11 games on the road.
One thing the Bulldogs have going for them is a nearly week-long break before they get back in action Monday against visiting Saxony Lutheran at 6 p.m.
"We've had quite a few games and pushed real hard," Noe said of their start to the season. "Chase Baron is out and I have a couple other guys banged up a little. That's no excuse, but it's great to have four or five days and get a couple good practice sessions in and prepare for next week.
"It'd been nice to go in to it with a win, but we're struggling and going through some things. We'll figure some things out and be better for it later."
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