By Staff
BUMP AND RUN Clarkdale's Justin Culpepper, right, battles Josh Murphy for the ball. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Ryan Satcher/staff writer
Jan. 15, 2002
Josh Murphy scored four goals to help West Lauderdale down visiting Clarkdale 6-0 in boys soccer Monday night, handing the Bulldogs their first loss of the season.
The Knights were unable to score in the first half, but exploded for six goals in the final 45 minutes to move their record to 12-4 on the year and remain perfect in division play.
Clarkdale fell to 9-1 with the division setback.
Both teams were unable to get a goal in the first half. West Lauderdale had the most opportunities, with one of the best chances came when John Hime crossed the ball to Anthony Thomas whose header bounded back into the middle of the field in front of the goal. Brandon Rodgers gathered it in and ripped a shot that went high and off the crossbar.
Clarkdale had a great chance to score later in the half when Daniel Warren broke free behind the defense. Knight keeper Tyler Skelton charged out and made the save for West Lauderdale to keep the score tied at zero.
West Lauderdale just missed a goal when C.Jay Fountain's long throw-in was headed by Murphy just wide of the goal. Late in the half, Rodgers just missed when he took a good shot that went over the goal.
The Knights finally scored when Fountain dribbled by a couple defenders and centered the ball. Andrew Culpepper couldn't get the shot off but the ball went to Murphy who settled it and kicked it into the right corner of the goal to make the score 1-0.
Later in the half, Culpepper beat his man on the left wing and crossed the ball. Murphy was in the center to head the ball past the goalie and into the net.
West Lauderdale just missed another goal when Fountain passed to Murphy for a header. The header was punched off the crossbar by the Clarkdale keeper and the rebound was shot high by Thomas.
Murphy scored his third goal of the game minutes later when the ball bounced loose from the keeper and he put the ball in the open net. Christopher Rodgers got a goal just minutes later when he stole the ball from a defender in the box and put it in the left corner of the goal to make the score 4-0.
The next Knight goal came when Brandon Rodgers knocked the ball loose from a defender and ahead to Murphy, who then beat the charging goalie to score his fourth goal of the game.
Brandon Rodgers scored the final goal of the game when he took a pass from Murphy and pushed the ball past the charging keeper and into the right side of the goal to make the final 6-0.
Clarkdale was unable to get many good chances in the second half.
Clarkdale will host Richland today. The girls' game begins at 6 p.m. with the boys' game to follow. West Lauderdale will host Philadelphia on Saturday at 11 a.m.