A solid defense can win games but on Tuesday the Dodge City boys soccer team relied on its offense in the final seconds to overpower the Hays Indians. In a 4-3 victory for Dodge City, four different players earned goals.
Defenses did dominate the first half. Hays was only able to put up a single goal and maintain that lead through halftime. Thirteen minutes into the second half the offenses emerged. Demon junior midfielder Mario Lopez swooped in for the kill from the center of the pitch and tied the score at one.
The Demons regrouped and pounded in the leading score with thirteen minutes left in the game. Freshman midfielder Leonel Lopez connected with Johan Vidana for the perfect header into the near-side of the net. The Demons took the lead 2-1.
Hays was not done scoring yet. A side kick hit the goal posts but a second of relief for the Demons turned into a Hays goal by junior Jordan Windholtz. It was tied again with 12 minutes left.
"We started to communicate a lot more and we started seeing the switches and actually stayed a little more wide," said DCHS head coach Charles Johnson. "We really think that we are well conditioned and we have the opportunity to wear teams down. We really believe that eventually that constant pressure started to wear them a little thin."
One more goal from each team kept the score tied at 3. With only 21 seconds left on the board Dodge City created the unbelievable. Freshman forward Brandon Chavez sprinted down the length of the pitch and found senior Hector Navarro waiting in front of the goal. Navarro popped the ball over a Hays defender's head and the goalie followed. Dodge City sealed the win in the final seconds 4-3.
"We know that we have kind of struggled early in the season, but we really believe that if we start building that momentum it is going to lead into the playoffs and we can have a good strong playoff run," Johnson said.
The boys also believe there is still hope for another title.
"I think this could give us a chance to win WAC and we always have a chance to go to state," Demon soph. midfielder Isaac Palma said.
SOT – Isaac Palma Soph. Midfielder DCHS
