Dayton Soccer Wins Playoff Match

In a close match between two tough teams, the Dayton Bulldogs upset the higher ranked Wallington Panthers in the semifinals of the Group 1 Public state soccer playoff, earning them an opportunity to play for a state championship.  

Dayton controlled the first half from the opening whistle on. Early in the first half, after a Bulldog penalty kick from midfield that landed in a sea of Bulldog offenders and Panther defenders, Dayton forward Kenny Pereira emerged with the ball and lofted it over the keeper’s head to bring the Bulldogs up 1-0. 

Wallington’s offense sputtered to start the game, getting only a few shots on goal before halftime. Their best opportunity of the period was a rocket shot that Dayton keeper Brandon Moss stopped at the edge of the net. Dayton fans roared.  

Throughout the first half, Bulldog midfielder Brian Reina’s yellow cleats could be seen flying all over, making defensive stops and setting up opportunities for the offense. He dominated in the middle of the field, helping to keep the Panthers scoreless in the first half. The halftime whistles blew with Dayton up by 1 goal.  

Wallington came out of the half determined. The Panthers quickly scored a tying goal after a penalty kick was intercepted and booted into the net with 33:32 remaining in the game. This goal was followed by a few more Panther advances that looked like they might be successful, but Dayton defenders fought back and kept Wallington from scoring.  

The defenses of both teams played well for the next 15 minutes, not allowing anyone to score or get good shots off. Both teams were playing tough soccer, drawing a lot of penalties and even a few yellow cards.  

Dayton fans went wild when a corner kick from Andre Zuniga was redirected perfectly into the goal by Roy Cabrera, re-capturing the lead with a 2-1 score and 15 minutes remaining.  

The Bulldogs strategy for the last 15 minutes was clear: keep Wallington away from the goal and run the clock out. They executed it perfectly, booting the ball downfield on every Panther advance, passing around Wallington players, and not giving their opponents any chances.  

With less than 4 minutes remaining, the Panthers looked poised to score again when they gained possession of the ball right in front of the goal, but Pereira, now back helping on defense, was there to send the ball out of bounds on what might have been the tying goal.

Wallington was running out of opportunities. Dayton kept clearing the ball and allowing the clock to run out, but with less than a minute remaining the Panthers started to press even harder. Finally, with 18 seconds remaining, Wallington drove forward and got off a clear shot that went right into Brandon Moss’s hands as he cut off the angle and saved the game for Dayton.  

“I guess I was in the right spot at the right time. My whole life flashed before my eyes,” remarked Moss after the game.  

Coach Felix Fabiano praised his players after the game: “The kids had a great game…they played good soccer. As far as I’m concerned, we were not the underdogs. We can play with anyone in the state. I know that I have a team that can put it together.”  

Now that the Bulldogs soccer team has secured a spot in the Group 1 Public state championship, they will have to put it together once more against Palmyra to win it.