The Becker Bulldog boys soccer team ended their season with a 4-1 loss to Cathedral in their Section 8A playoff game Thursday on the road.
The Bulldogs finished with a record of 5-9-2 and a third place finish in the Granite Ridge Conference.
Cathedral 4, Becker 1
The Bulldogs traveled to Whitney Field in St. Cloud to face off against Cathedral for the third time this season. All three games were won by St. Cloud including a 4-0 shutout Sept. 18 and a 7-2 win last Thursday.
This past Thursday, the Bulldogs got behind early when a header by Alex Peterson found the back of the net to start the match. The Bulldogs buckled down and played tremendously well against the Granite Ridge Conference champs and had several opportunities to tie the score early in the first half.
However, the frustration grew with the Bulldogs as each time they got close, the Crusaders started to gain momentum. The Bulldogs’ defense was stifling and St. Cloud’s play would be cut down in the gaps and their attacks thwarted.
Cathedral senior forward Jeremy South was a machine as he gathered in crossing passes and put numerous shots on goal. However, the Bulldogs withstood the onslaught and the first half ended with the home team up 1-0.
Much was the same in the second half as the Bulldogs maintained their relentless play and kept the Crusaders on their heels. But it all came crashing down when, on a controversial call and a lengthy conversation by the officials, Cathedral was awarded a penalty kick. Peterson put a dagger in the Bulldog hearts as he netted the kick to put the Crusaders up by 2-0.
At the 62 minute mark, the Bulldogs got back in the game when they were awarded a corner kick. The kick was taken by senior captain Josiah Borst and he put it in play on the back post where junior forward Nick Vieau was “johnny-on-the-spot” to score for the Bulldogs to make it 2-1.
“We spent about 40 minutes at practice setting and resetting our corners,” said Head Coach Alex Jurek. “Coach (Dan) Baird and I knew that if we were going to win this game, it would come down to set pieces. Josiah did what he does best, put the ball in play and Nick capitalized on it. Nick seems to have a nose for the goal, he was due.”
With 15 minutes left on the clock, the Crusaders got their two-goal lead back when Justin Fleegel squeaked the ball past sophomore goalkeeper Hunter McCalla. Two minutes later, Cathedral put it on ice with a score from just outside the 18 foot mark.
Despite the sub-par record and a first round exit in the playoffs, the Bulldogs acquired two pieces of hardware with their championships in the Becker Fall Classic (Sept.
13) and the Watertown-Mayer Tournament (Sept. 20). The Bulldogs will graduate 10 seniors this season and will look to return 29 players to next year’s roster.
