Only 12 minutes into Dickinson’s soccer game at Bismarck on Thursday, luck was not on their side and that bad luck cost them as they lost to the Demons 1-0.
After an injury to Justin Wardell, the Demons (8-1-1) tried to capitalize, pushing the ball down the field.
They connected on a shot right at the goal and keeper Jace Hughes saved the ball from reaching the back of the net, initially.
Fabricio Pereira and a foe from Bismarck kicked the ball at the same time and somehow it found the back of the net.
“It was super unfortunate and really unlucky for us. We held them after that. Our kids kept their heads up and fought. We had several shots on goal, and it was so close,” head coach Jeremy Schmitt said…“ The kids did excellent and obviously Bismarck is one of the tougher teams in the state right now. To go 1-0 against them, I am super proud. They just scored a lucky goal.”
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Down the stretch, the Midgets (4-7) had their opportunities to tie.
The game resembled a contest from earlier this year versus Legacy where Dickinson controlled the ball over the final seven minutes, but they couldn’t tie the game.
Igor Niyimbona had the best chance to even the score when he put his foot on the ball with about two minutes left, and the Demons goalkeeper tipped the ball saving it from going into the net.
The ball still hit the post, and Dickinson had a corner kick but they couldn’t take advantage.
Schmitt said that with any luck at all, Niyimbona’s shot would have gone in tying the game.
“We keep stressing to our kids to do their responsibilities 100% of the time,” Schmitt said. “A majority of the goals scored on us have been because of breakdowns on our end. It is rarely because the other team does something extremely great. Today was exactly the same, and we worked really hard to drive down the field. That is what created opportunities. I think our kids are seeing they have the potential to win games, and I think it is coming.”
Despite the loss, Schmitt was proud of his team for hanging with the Demons who have the best record currently in the Western Dakota Association.
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