The defending state champion Douglas Bulldog soccer team has its back to the wall and needs to win its final four games of the regular season if they hope to make it back to the state playoffs.

Bruce Whetten / Douglas Dispatch Douglas’ Stephan Orozco attempts to put the ball in the net in the first half of Douglas’ match with Cholla. The Bulldogs won the match 5-0.

Douglas won two of three games last week but it’s that one loss that could really hurt them in the end.

Unlike baseball, basketball, volleyball and tennis teams in this sport meet each other just once during the regular season and an “off” night could prove to be detrimental.

On Tuesday, Jan. 12 the Bulldogs beat Cholla 5-0.

Jorge Buelna, Alfonso Romero and Ramon Acosta each had unassisted goals the first half giving Douglas a 3-0 lead at the break.

In the second half Kevin Pacheco and Juan Cuevas each scored for Douglas.

The Bulldogs out shot Cholla 26-9. Bulldog goalies Guillermo Larrazolo and Mike Abrigo combined for three saves.

Douglas’ soccer coach Ken Cormier said after the match he knew Cholla was not that strong of a team but he still wanted his kids to be prepared and play with some intensity.

“In this league you can’t afford to have an off night,” he said. “Cholla played a good, clean match. They’re a well coached team.”

On Wednesday the Bulldogs headed to Tucson to take on an Amphi team that was on a roll.

Acosta’s goal in the 16th minute gave Douglas a 1-0 lead.

Amphi came back and tied the match 1-1 at the half.

The Panthers scored again in the second half taking a 2-1 lead.

With 3.4 seconds left in regulation Romero was fouled inside the Amphi box setting up a golden opportunity for Douglas to tie the game.

Coach Cormier opted to have Ramon Acosta take the kick since he had converted in the first half.

Acosta missed his shot and the Bulldogs went down to defeat.

Douglas and Amphi each had 12 shots on goal this match. Larrazolo had five saves.

On Friday the Bulldogs headed back to Tucson to take on Santa Rita.

Douglas came away with a 5-3 win.

Santa Rita struck first scoring a goal in the seventh minute taking a 1-0 lead.

Alan Lamadrid tied the match four minutes later scoring off an assist from Pacheco.

Cuevas and Pacheco teamed up for another goal a short while later as the Dogs led 2-1 at the half.

In the second half Lamadrid, Michael Castro and Stephan Orozco each scored for Douglas as the Bulldogs increased their lead to 5-1.

Santa Rita scored two goals in the final 10 minutes cutting Douglas’ lead to two.

The Bulldogs out shot Santa Rita 21-8. Goalies Larrazolo and Abrigo combined for four saves.

Coach Cormier said most people would be happy to go 2-1 on a week but for his team that was not so good.

“We felt we let that Amphi game get away from us,” he said. “We missed a lot of scoring opportunities there at the end.”

The coach said his team did a much better job of bouncing back against Santa Rita and must now focus on its final four games if it hopes to make the post season.

Junior varsity

Douglas’ JV-B soccer team improved to 5-1 on the season after losing to Salpointe 2-1 and beating Nogales 3-0.

Against Buena Efrain Gamez had the lone goal for Douglas who out shot Salpointe 12-8.

Bulldog goalie Efrain Elias had seven saves.

Against Nogales Mario Gastellum had two goals and Grant Watkins one.

Douglas out shot Nogales 16-10.

Goalies Elias and Rene Moran combined for 10 saves.

The JV-B team is back in action today at Buena.