By Rick Knack
JEFFERSONVILLE — September 10, 2002 – In a hard fought season opener last Thursday, the Sullivan West Bulldogs lost to James I. O’Neill, 3-0, in a Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division III boys’ soccer game.
The game was evenly matched with saves by both goalies in the first five minutes of play.
Senior Ben Dalton of visiting O’Neill scored the first goal nine minutes into play and followed it up with another goal approximately six minutes later. The third O’Neill goal was scored by senior Peter Rose.
After competing as a Class C team in 2001, the Bulldogs have moved up to Class B status this season.
“They’re a good team,” said O’Neill coach Ken Hall of SW. “They should play really well this year.”
Two SW goalies played in the match. Carlos Arqueta was credited with five saves and Joe Meyer recorded two saves.
O’Neill is 1-0 overall on the young season and 1-0 in OCIAA Division III play. SW is 0-1, 0-1.
Despite the loss, Bulldog Coach Howie Whitmore is optimistic about the season.
“We’re a young team this year,” Whitmore said. “We have places we can improve on. Moving up to Class B status is tough. We’ll get better as the season goes on and be a good team.”