Bulldogs soccer team earns first win of season

MURPHY, NC – Despite facing a team with twice the players and losing one of their own to injury in the first half, the Murphy High boys soccer team earned a 2-1 win against Tallulah Falls at home Monday, Sept. 16.

The win was the first on the season for the Bulldogs (1-1) and came courtesy of gritty play and two goals from junior Kenneth Parker.

Parker scored his first goal early, finding the back of the net in just the second minute.

Much later, with the score even at a goal each and less than six minutes left in regulation, Parker again found the net for his second strike to push the Bulldogs into the lead.

Murphy was without junior forward Luke Ritz in the second half. Ritz left the game in the 16th minute due a severe ankle injury.

After Ritz’s exit, the Bulldogs found their total roster down to just 11, leaving no substitutions available for first-year head coach Justin Butler.

After a long delay in which Ritz was taken off by ambulance, Butler said he was proud of how

his team played with just 11 players for the remaining 65 minutes of the game.

“They played fantastic. They dug deep and continued to play hard, and it paid off with a goal late in the game and a well-earned win,” Butler said.

Ritz was diagnosed with a broken ankle and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

“I have one (player) that was not able to suit up that will be with us normally, and one or two more that may be joining us,” Butler said of his short-staffed squad.

The Bulldogs will need to add to the roster if they hope to improve upon a 4-9 overall record, 3-7 in the conference, from a season ago.

Murphy next plays on the road at Franklin, beginning at 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19.

The Bulldogs are slated to open play in the 1-A Smoky Mountain Conference against Hayesville at home Sept. 25.