By Cort Reynolds
Playing at home, the Ada High School boys soccer team lost to Bath 1-0 in a defensive battle on August 22 at War Memorial Stadium.
The Bulldogs fell to 2-1 after suffering their first loss. Bath improved to 1-0-1 with the shutout win.
Bath’s Peyton Liles scored in the opening minutes off a corner kick by Oscar Webb, and the Wildcats’ tough defense made it stand up the rest of the way.
“I have to give credit to Bath for finishing their corner kick,” said Bulldog head coach Aaron Acheson.
Bath fired a shot wide with 13:50 left in the half. At the 2:49 mark, Ada senior Max Puerto used some nifty footwork along the right goal line before blasting a shot off the left post that ricocheted out of play.
In the second half, Ada goalkeeper Jacob Rush made a save at the 35:15 mark.
With 33:33 to go, a Bath shot was rifled just wide right past a diving Rush.
The Wildcats again shot wide of the goal with 19:09 remaining. Just over two minutes later Bath got off a shot on goal that was saved by Rush.
The Wildcats earned a corner kick with nine minutes left to play.
A left side shot by Bath went awry with 4:55 to go. The game got chippy toward the end and Bulldog Carson Conley was given a card with 90 seconds left for pushing a Bath player out of bounds.
A final Bath shot sailed wide with 22 seconds to go.
Rush got off a desperation 60-yard boot at the final buzzer, but it hooked wide left of the goal.
Ada keeper Rush was credited with six saves in goal. The Bulldogs were able to muster six shots on goal.
“I am proud of Jacob Rush,” said Acheson. “I felt like he played strong tonight. I am also really pleased with the way Ty Mowery played.
“He won tackles, was tough and very disciplined with his body positioning,” he added.
Bath keeper Landyn Vreeland had six saves in posting the shutout.
Ada hosts backyard rival Allen East (0-1) Saturday evening at 5 p.m. in the opener of a boys/girls doubleheader.
