OTTUMWA — First, it was a strong start against perennial powerhouse Iowa City High that led to a season-opening draw.
On Thursday, the Ottumwa boys soccer team continued to showcase the promise of producing a very special season.
The Bulldogs got off to another strong start against Oskaloosa in the team's first home match of the season, producing a 19-1 edge in total shots with 11 different players connecting on at least one strike towards the net. Andy Nael Remilien and Abel Gebermariam each scored goals in the opening 10 minutes of the match before Samoda Villatoro blocked a clearing strike by the Indians into the net late in the first half to help provide the Bulldogs with enough insurance to put away a 3-1 win over the Indians.
"We started pressing and I could see the kid who was initially handling the ball was nervous about passing it," Villatoro said. "I just felt like I could take the ball away and pass it to someone for a goal. All of sudden, I blocked it and the ball went into the back of the net."
Omar Garcia kept Ottumwa from what would have been a runaway win as the Oskaloosa goalie stopped 16 of the 33 shots taken by the Bulldogs in the match. Kade Van Wyk gave the Indians (0-3) some late hope, scoring off rebound with under 16 minutes left before Ottumwa's defense rose up to prevent Oskaloosa from drawing any closer.
"We may still have to do some work on our fitness. I feel like we've run into that problem where we're running out of the same energy that we have at the start of each match," Ottumwa head boys soccer coach Andy Maw said. "We created a lot of chances in the second half, but we weren't able to finish the same we we did in the first half."
Ottumwa opened the season on Monday with an impressive 3-3 tie against Iowa City High on the road. Yeferson Rodriguez Mendoza recorded a hat trick in the opening half for the Bulldogs, scoring three goals on just four shots including a goal on a penalty kick helping Ottumwa jump out to a 3-1 lead.
"Our whole goal is that we want to make it to state," Maw said. "That's something that Ottumwa soccer has never done before. That's why we wanted to take on Iowa City High. We asked to play in a tournament with Pleasant Valley this year. We want to play tough teams. We're going to have a tough schedule. We're going to take some knocks this year, but if you want to make it to that higher level, you've got to play those teams."
Ottumwa (1-0-1) returns to the pitch this weekend to compete in the Newton Cardinal Tournament. The Bulldogs open against Benton Community on Saturday morning at H.A. Lynn Stadium starting at approximately 11 a.m.
