FORT MADISON – A sense of something special is coming together for the Bloodhound soccer team.
The IHSSCA Class 3A’s 3rd ranked Fort Madison knocked off Clear Creek-Amana 5-1 and Davenport North 3-2 in a penalty kick overtime to go 2-0 at the annual Bloodhound Invitational Saturday at the Baxter Sports Complex.
The Hounds got some sterling keeper play from junior Oliver Santiago in a come-from-behind effort against North’s Wildcats in the afternoon matchup.
Santiago had two key saves in the second half and then knocked out two shots in the penalty kick to allow Jacob Shottenkirk to get the game-winner in a sudden-victory second penalty kick OT session.
The sophomore also scored the first goal for the Hounds in the second half to tie the game at 1. His shot came off a keeper block on the right side unassisted.
North would score again off a give-and-go on the right side of the field where Yousif Alallaf got behind a sprinting Hound defense and weaved his way through before slipping the ball low into the net to Santiago’s left.
Nolan Guzman scored the game-tying goal with about five minutes left in the match on a rebound off North’s keep on a wicked ball in from Wellman from about 20 feet. The ball caromed left into the square where Guzman popped it in for a 2-2 game.
With the scored tied at 2-all at the end of regulation, the Hounds got penalty kick scores from Leif Boeding, Xander Wellman, and Henry Graham, to keep the match tied at 3 each.
The game then went to a second session of penalty kicks where the Wildcats missed their first shot, and Shottenkirk blasted one in to the left of the keep for the win.
Shottenkirk said he didn’t think it would get to a second session, but he was ready if needed.
“When they first shot for the second wave and he missed, I felt more confident, but for penalties, you have to pick a side and stick with it. I knew where I was going and I just stuck with it,” he said.
“I was trying not to get too nervous, that can mess you up.”
Santiago, who was also set to take a penalty kick in the second session rotation, said he had to let the nerves go on the first couple penalty shots from North.
“The first couple shots, I was nervous, as I always am, and I just guessed. But after I settle in a little more, I look at their eyes and what direction their body is moving up to the ball, and that gives you a tell on which way they may go,” he said.
Tight games like this help build Santiago’s confidence going forward.
“It helps every time you get a shot on goal. Basically, all I can say as a goalie is you just need to build confidence.”
Head Coach Kevin Wellman said Santiago played one of his better games.
“He played really well. It’s never one mistake or play that makes or breaks things. They had some nice combination play going, but our defenders were able to run with them and make the shot difficult,” he said.
“But they still got the shot off and we had Oliver there to make the saves, fortunately."
Wellman said the Hounds were a bit off in the first half, but kept working.
“We blinked. In the first half we blinked. We weren’t quite ready and they capitalized on that. Their give-and-go was really good. And as good our defenders are, if you take your eye off the ball for second and that guy gets in behind you, that’s all it takes. And that’s all it took and their kid was good and fast.”
He said the win, which avenges a lost to North last year on PKs shows the kids know how to keep climbing the mountain – an attribute he credits to Fort Madison coach and Athletic Enhancement director Derek Doherty.
“We didn’t put our heads down. We got scored on first and then we grinded it out for a long time,” he said.
“High school kids sometimes think it’s too big of a mountain, but these guys are pretty good at thinking it’s just work. And I can’t say it enough - that’s again on Coach Doherty. The athletic enhancement program is making them stronger and faster, but it’s teaching them to be committed. They're down a goal with five minutes left – and it’s work time.”
In the opener against Clear Creek-Amana, the Hounds got behind early 1-0 but then came roaring back for a 5-1 rain-shortened win.
Graham had the hat trick on the day with three goals – two in the first half and one in the third, for the 5-1 lead. Graham got two assists from Jacob Pothitakis, and one each from Boeding, Shottenkirk, Guzman, and Wellman on the three goals.
Boeding also scored on an assist from Tate Green and Wellman scored unassisted on a breakaway from the left side. Santiago had two saves in the match.
The Hounds trail Des Moines Hoover and ADM (Adel, Desoto, Meadow) High School in the Class 3A most recent rankings.
Fort Madison junior varsity lost to CC-A 2-0 and beat North in a penalty session 1-0.
The Hounds improve to 7-0 (3-0) on the year, and travel to Burlington Monday night.
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