Sikeston soccer team takes third at Greg Kline Invitational

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

sports@standard-democrat.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Sikeston boys soccer team finished in third place during the Greg Kline Invitational Tournament over the weekend in Carbondale, Ill.

The Bulldogs defeated the host 1-0 in the third place game Saturday. Sikeston got the upper hand in a back and forth match against the Terriers in the 50th minute when Cody Rogers found the back of the net off an assist from Audi Hay.

Sikeston's defense held strong the rest of the way to preserve the win and Sikeston's third place finish in the 8-team tournament.

"Overall, we're proud of our showing," Sikeston head coach Doyle Noe said. "We know we still have some things we need to work on with it being so early in the season, but I feel like we had a good tournament."

The Bulldogs found their way into the third place game after winning their opener but dropping the semifinal match against Anna-Jonesboro.

In the first round, Sikeston pulled out an overtime thriller against the reigning Class 1 Illinois state champions, Marquette Catholic High School from Alton, Ill.

After the first six minutes had past, Marquette went ahead by a goal after a penalty kick. Sikeston's Layton Jones, however, made it a tie game again with 20 minutes remaining.

Neither team was able to find the net until the second overtime with freshman Sam Cox scored the game-winner following an assist by Jones to end it.

"It's big for a freshman to step up and get a game-winner like that," Noe said.

After their win against Marquette, Sikeston moved on to face the eventual winner's of the tournament, Anna-Jonesboro, in the tournament semifinals. There, Anna-Jonesboro pulled out a 2-0 win.

"We played pretty well," said Noe. "We just couldn't get one to go in early. We actually out-shot them on goal. We just couldn't finish."

Sikeston (2-1) will once again be on the road Thursday when they take part in the Notre Dame Soccerfest at 5:30 p.m. against Cape Central.

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