Bulldog kickers win 3 straight

The Douglas Bulldog soccer team played three games in three days and came away with three straight wins last week.

The week began on Tuesday, Nov. 4 with Douglas hosting Sahuaro. When the two teams met several weeks ago in the Brandon Bean tournament the Bulldogs came away with a 1-0 win scoring a goal late in the second half.

The match was just as close this time as Douglas once again was victorious winning 2-1.

According to Douglas’ soccer coach Ken Cormier the Bulldogs dominated play in the first half but failed to score, missing several opportunities.

With just 19 minutes left in the game, Sahuaro drew first blood taking a 1-0 lead.

Two minutes later, Captain Javier Buelna tied the game on a clutch 25 yarder after a foul was called on Sahuaro.

With the scored tied with just under two minutes to play, midfielder Ozzie Moreno capitalized on a defensive mistake and pushed the game winner by the outstretched arms of the Sahuaro goalie giving the Dogs a 2-1 lead and eventually the win.

The Bulldogs out shot Sahuaro 15-5 with goalie Marc Gonzalez having three saves. “Beating a fine team like Sahuaro twice in the same season is quite an accomplishment, and a good indication that we are on the right road,” the coach said afterwards.

On Wednesday the Bulldogs hosted the Safford Bulldogs and blew them out 10-0.

There was no let down as it took Douglas just three minutes into the game to score its first goal on a beautiful give and go play from Mario Gastelum to Kirt Cormier.

Cormier finished with two goals and two assists, Hiram Iniquez , Jesus Loreto, and freshman Jacob Ortega each had two goals and Hugo Grijalva scored once.

The Douglas Bulldogs out shot Safford 29-2, with goalies Marc Gonzalez and Estevan Mora each recording one save.

On Thursday, Dec. 6, the Bulldogs hosted the Thatcher Eagles and came away with a 5-1 win.

The coach said although the fatigue of playing three consecutive nights was evident in the play of the Bulldogs, they had no trouble in handling Thatcher, taking a 4-0 halftime lead.

Cormier got the Bulldogs started scoring just five minutes into the game.

Grijalva scored the first of his two goals at the 15 minute mark, Gastelum followed at the 28th minute, and Francisco Orduna finished the first half scoring with just two minutes left.

Grijalva scored Douglas’ lone goal of the second half. The Bulldogs out shot the Eagles 22-3, Marc Gonzalez had one save as did Estevan Mora.

“It was a really good week for us,” Coach Cormier said, “ everyone played substantial minutes and we’ll now have an opportunity to reassess personnel and positions as we head into the Sabino tournament this week.”

The Bulldogs are 3-0-1 in power ranking games, and will play Flowing Wells and Desert View in a double-header on Tuesday and Rincon on Friday at Sabino High School.