BROOKINGS – The Bobcats kept their Eastern South Dakota Conference unbeaten streak alive as they powered past Mitchell, 9-0, in Tuesday’s conference matchup at Fishback Soccer Park.
Brookings, which improved to 5-2 overall and 5-0 in the ESD, travels to Sioux Falls on Thursday to take on Washington in a 6 p.m. contest at Yankton Trail.
“I think we were most proud of ourselves for not playing selfish – we distributed the ball well – and a lot of the goals came off assists, especially in a game like that where a lot of players may think that they can do more by themselves,” said Bobcat head coach Steve Binkley. “Last year, Mitchell (played us to a 2-2 draw) and we just didn’t want that to happen again, especially when we are at the top of the ESD and can’t afford a loss or a tie.”
Junior Zokou found the back of the net twice in the first six minutes to set the tone of the game early as Schaffer Vestal and Keegan Fields set up the respective goals.
Jonah Dobbs’ unassisted goal in the 17th minute pushed the lead to 3-0 before Vestal scored off a corner kick that the Kernel defense couldn’t clear with 19:43 to play in the half.
Daniyil Potapenko converted inside the box with less than eight minutes left with Fields picking up his second assist as the Bobcats led 5-0 at halftime.
Brookings tacked on two more goals in less than 3 minutes of play in the second half as Dobbs notched his second unassisted goal before Potapenko tallied his second score off another Fields’ helper.
Kohji Numata made it 8-0 with 16:25 left off an Edwin Carillo assist, and then, Isaac Conrad provided for the final margin with a goal inside of a minute to play off Mike Kindvall’s setup.
Jake Weber and Zander Larson combined in goal for the shutout win as the ‘Cats held a 28-5 edge in shots, which included a 16-0 advantage in shots on goal.
Register photo: Goalkeeper Jake Weber challenges Mitchell’s Mark Novak on a corner kick into the box during the first half of the Bobcats’ 9-0 Eastern South Dakota Conference win on Tuesday at Fishback Soccer Park.
