HARRISON — It was David vs. Goliath Thursday morning when the Bulldog soccer team clashed with Danville Little Johns in the first round of the 3A state boys soccer tournament at Wychert Reality Field in Harrison. It was a battle. His eight Bulldogs players competed against a full team of Little Johns to see who would advance to the tournament and who would go home.
More than half of the Bulldog soccer team has been suspended for one game for an incident during the Decatur vs. Lincoln Wolves game on May 2 at Bulldog Stadium in Decatur. And coincidentally, that one game was the first round of the state playoffs. If the Bulldogs win, the remaining teams will play in the second round of the tournament.
Seven players were on the field, including Jackson Montano, Cender Garcia, Marlon Revolio, Yovani Gonzalez, Frank Gonzalez, Emiliano Ramirez, and Israel Tao, with backup Emilio Smith-Gomez sitting on the bench. The Bulldogs were ready. Heading into a battle against Danville, the second seed in the 3A 1 East Conference.
Due to a minor shoulder injury, Decatur's number one goalkeeper, Emiliano Ramirez, was selected to play in midfield. Ramirez was replaced by Frank Gonzalez, who usually played in midfield. The stage was set for an 80-minute contest.
Halfway through the first half, Little Johns found the Bulldog net for his first goal of the morning. Danville made several attacks on the net, but Frank Gonzalez repelled them all.
Just before the halftime break, the Bulldogs' Yorvani Gonzalez picked up the ball in midfield, moved down the sideline and took a good angle into the net. He fired the ball past Danville's goalie for the tying goal. The first half ended in a 1-1 tie.
Even after the break, the Bulldog Seven continued to repel Danville's attacks and score points. Each time, Frank Gonzalez managed to repel the goal attempts.
With 10 minutes remaining and the game still tied at 1-1, Ramirez and Yovani Gonzalez went down with injuries. For a brief period, the Bulldogs played with just five players on the field. Danville Little Jones made the most of the situation, scoring two goals to take a two point lead. With Smith Gomez able to finish the game and Yovani Gonzalez and Ramirez back in the game, the Bulldogs looked to catch up.
The Decatur Bulldogs ran out the clock and Danville Little Jones won 3-1 in the first round, advancing to the 3A state tournament and ending the Bulldogs' 2024 football season.
The Bulldogs finished the regular season in third place in the 3A 1 West with a record of 7-6 overall and 7-5 in the conference, defeating Seden, Lincoln, Lifeway (both home and on the road) and Haas Hall. . Rogers.
One of the defining moments of this year's Bulldog season was Yorvani Gonzalez's goal in a tournament game against Danville that tied the game 1-1. This moment, coupled with his eight players holding Little Johns to just one point throughout the 70 minutes from the first half to the second half, is the key to Decatur's Bulldogs football season throughout the 2024 football season. It showed the team's dedication and never-give-up attitude. .
By Mike Eckels/Eagle Observer Special Reporter Marlon Revolioglio prepares to take a free kick in the Little John goal during the second half of the Danville-Decatur soccer game Thursday morning at Weichert Reality Field in Harrison. doing. The Bulldogs, who were competing in the 3A state soccer tournament, lost to Little John's 3-1 in the first round, ending the 2024 season.
