Lee Trawick
Reporter2@riverbendnews.org
Suwannee High School's boys varsity soccer team began their season with a 1-0 win over the Santa Fe Raiders. However, they have struggled to find consistency on either side of the ball since then. Although they managed to tie the Eastside Rams, 1-1, in their second game, the Bulldogs have since dropped four straight.
With the loss of seven seniors from a season ago, it's apparent the Bulldogs are struggling to fill the gaps left behind. While the team continues to navigate a brutal schedule, the coaching staff is still looking for a player to step into the leadership role.
On Wednesday, the Bulldogs played host to the Gainesville Hurricanes (6-0-1). In their first possession, the Hurricanes drove the ball through the Bulldogs' defense. With a pass from the outside to the middle, their striker was positioned perfectly to maneuver around the Bulldogs' goalie, giving the Hurricanes an early 1-0 lead. Then, just before the first half ended, they struck again to take the lead, 2-0, at halftime.
It was more of the same in the second half, as the Hurricanes proceeded to add three more goals, extending their lead to 5-0. However, with just over six minutes remaining in the game, the Bulldogs got on the scoreboard when they were able to put pressure on the Hurricanes' defense. This came when senior Luis Lopez jumped for a 50-50 ball and was able to win the battle. He hit a header over the Hurricanes and into the net for the Bulldogs' lone goal, bringing the score to 5-1. The Bulldogs' overall record now falls to 1-4-1 on the season.