Bulldogs Win; EHS, Altamont Drop Soccer Matches

CENTRALIA -- Effingham St. Anthony blanked Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran 5-0 in soccer action Tuesday.

Goals came from Benton Hakman with two, Frank Jansen, Jonas Amberg and James Kabbes. Assists were by Jansen (2), Hakman and Amberg. St. Anthony saves were by Ashley Dietzen with five in the first half and Zach Tegeler with one in the second half.

"Andy Saba and Zoe Donovan began the game and immediately started putting pressure on the Stallions goal," said St. Anthony Coach Scott Demers. "Andy ended up with multiple attempts to work the ball into the Christ Our Rock goal area. With sound midfield play from Jackson Willenborg, Mason Thomas and Ty Kinkelaar, we kept the ball out of their defensive half until about 10 minutes into the game when Stallion forward, Joel Kranz, ripped a shot that was saved by starting keeper, Ashley Dietzen.  Dietzen kept us in the first half.  She knows how to be in the right place at the right time and doesn't over-react."

Amberg was the first to score when he took a pass from Jansen and placed it into the goal in the 25th minute of the first half.  The half ended with St. Anthony leading 1-0.

"The Christ Our Rock Lutheran Stallions never gave up," said Demers. "Although they were behind, they worked hard to get the ball and work it past our defense.  Joel Kranz and Cameron Owen were able to get shots onto our goal but our defense held the home team and ended the game with four more goals. They (Christ Our Rock Lutheran Team) never quit and they always demonstrated the highest level of sportsmanship."

St. Anthony's most valuable player was Benton Hakman. The Bulldogs are 11-6-3 on the season and will have their final regular season match Thursday at Teutopolis Junior High School. The junior varsity will play the Wooden Shoes at 5 p.m. with the varsity at around 6 p.m.

At Mount Zion

Effingham fell in a tough 1-0 contest to host Mount Zion Tuesday. The Braves' Craig Kenney hit in the only goal of the game with 9:33 left in the second half.

The Hearts took nine shots, three on goal while Mount Zion took eight shots, three on goal. Effingham's Dalton Steele had two saves while Devin Bowling had three saves for the Braves.

Effingham drops to 2-1 in the Apollo Conference, 9-6-3 overall. The Hearts will host Altamont Thursday.

"The game was well played on both sides with most of the game taking place in the midfield," said EHS Coach Aaron Witges. "It was our best overall defensive and passing effort of the season. We had several chances in the last five minutes of the game, including one where Mt. Zion's keeper was laying on his back but he was able to get a piece and deflect it off goal. I was very pleased with our overall effort. It was a big game for conference standings and we came up a little short."

Effingham won the junior varsity game 1-0. Synne Christiansen scored the goal for the Hearts.

At Altamont

Altamont fell to Arthur-Lovington 5-1. The lone goal for the Indians came from Michael Clarkson in the first half to tie the score at 1-1.

Altamont had eight shots, two on goal. Adam Doty had five saves. Arthur-Lovington had 21 shots, 10 on goal and one save.

The Indians drop to 0-15-1 on the season.

The two teams played to a 1-1 tie in junior varsity play. Brooke Burns scored for Altamont.