Wildcat soccer team scores first win over Cape Notre Dame
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<p class="p1">Last Wednesday, Aug. 26, the Wildcat boys' soccer team hosted the Bulldogs of Cape Girardeau Notre Dame. </p><p class="p1">Although only the second game of the season it was an important game for the Wildcats. </p><p class="p1">The Wildcat soccer program had never beaten the Bulldogs. But this year the result would finally be different, as the Wildcats posted a 2-1 victory.</p><p class="p1">“The past few years we have been close to getting that first win,” said Wildcat coach Mark Boomer. </p><p class="p1">“But each time ‘they’ have found a way to win. But not this time, not this year. It was finally our turn to walk away happy.” </p><p class="p1">Although coming off a season-opening disappointing loss at Poplar Bluff, the Wildcats seemed confident as they took the field against the Bulldogs. </p><p class="p1">The first 10 to 15 minutes of the game were pretty even. But the Wildcats seemed to be slowly gaining control with possession and ball movement and seemed to have the Bulldogs on their heels a bit. </p><p class="p1">At the 20-minute mark of the first half, midfielder Ryan Stark went in for a loose ball with his eyes on Zach Parr, who was open on the left side. Unfortunately the play resulted in an injury to Stark and possession to the Bulldogs.</p><p class="p1">“Losing Ryan in our midfield certainly hurt us but it also gave someone else a chance to step in and make some plays,” Boomer said. And that is exactly what coach Boomer saw from his team.</p><p class="p1">Ruben Lopez, Jovani Amesquita and Alejandro Peneda would be inserted into the game in various positions and made significant contributions to the Cats in the midfield to help limit the Bulldog attack.</p><p class="p1">“Ruben and Jovani haven’t seen much varsity playing time and this wasn’t the game you’d like to see them get their experience in. But that is how it was and they stepped in and really provided support for us,” Boomer said.</p><p class="p1">The Cats would get their first goal off the foot of Jaryt Tripp, who had the ball just outside the 18-yard box, executed a few dribble moves and found himself with a look to the net. He took the shot unassisted and the Cats had the 1-0 lead.</p><p class="p1">A few minutes later, it was Zach Parr’s opportunity and he drove the ball past the Bulldog keeper for the second Wildcat score of the half and a 2-0 halftime lead.</p><p class="p1">That would be all the scoring the Cats would need, as Jake Parr allowed only one goal in the second half. </p><p class="p1">“The defense really stepped up in the second half tonight,” Boomer said. "We had some big minutes from Garrett Nimmo and JT Moore, who played on the outside and really kept the Bulldogs from getting the ball to the corners to set up any cross ball. I can’t say enough about how hard they played.”</p><p class="p1">To the joy of a large crowd on hand, the final seconds ticked off the clock as the Cats experienced their first ever win over the Bulldogs of Cape Notre Dame, 2-1.</p><p class="p1">“It is exciting. I am excited for our team and for our seniors. Over the past few years this program has experienced a lot of ‘firsts,’ but this win over Notre Dame has been elusive. Each year the seniors make it their vow to get the win. This year’s group finally did that and there are a lot of boys from past teams who felt this win.”</p><p class="p1">With the win, the Cats moved to 1-1 on the season. </p>