Bluegrass Bandits jump out to 3-0 lead on Dayton, coast to third straight win

(Lexington, Ky.)- The Bluegrass Bandits Soccer Club (4-6) surged to an early 3-0 lead on visiting Dayton (4-7) and coasted to its third consecutive victory on Jessamine Youth Soccer Night last Friday at Lexington Catholic High School. Forward Scott Deopere scored twice to tie teammate Moises Drumond for the team lead in goals scored, while Sam McDonald added the other goal.

All of the Bandits’ goals came in the first half. Lexington got on the scoreboard less than ten minutes into the game when Deopere took an assist from Nick Donaldson and beat Dayton goalkeeper Matt Gibson to the lower right side for the early 1-0 lead.

With 25:03 still left until halftime, Deopere got loose up front and was fouled in the penalty box by a Dayton defender, resulting in a penalty kick for the Bandits. Scoring his second goal of the game and fifth of the season, Deopere faked a shot to the right and slipped his PK by keeper Gibson to the left.

Capping the scoring in the half and the game was midfielder Sam McDonald, who received an assist from Justin Sanders, settled the ball just inside the 18-yard box, and bounced a shot off the left post and into the goal. McDonald’s goal put the Bandits in front 3-0 with 11:57 remaining in the first half.

The Gems dominated the offensive play in the second half, but a much-maligned Lexington defense came up big in the clutch. Goalkeeper Derek Orf posted his third shutout of the season, while the Bandits continued to limit opponents’ scoring chances. The Lexington club has given up only three goals in its last four matches.

DAYTON AT BLUEGRASS BANDITS BOX SCORE (JUNE 30):

Dayton Gems 0 0- 0
Bluegrass Bandits 3 0- 3
Goals: Bandits (1^st-35:47) Scott Deopere (assist-Nick Donaldson); Bandits (1^st-25:03) Deopere (penalty kick); Bandits (1^st-11:57) Sam McDonald (assist-Justin Sanders); Keepers: Bandits-Derek Orf, Dayton-Matt Gibson; Records: Bandits 4-6, Dayton 4-7.

Kalamazoo Kingdom snaps Bandits’ win streak, 1-0

(Lexington, Ky.)- Simply put, it was a game that got away. One defensive miscue by the Bluegrass Bandits’ Soccer Club (4-7) early in the second half led to a 1-0 win by visiting Kalamazoo (8-6) on Saturday night at Lexington Catholic High School.

While the loss snapped the Bandits’ three-game winning streak, Kalamazoo’s win kept the Kingdom close to division leading Mid Michigan (10-2). Lexington will look to get back on track when it hosts West Michigan next Friday, July 7, at 8 p.m. and then Mid Michigan on Saturday, July 8, at 7:30 p.m. Both games will be played at Lexington Catholic.

Bandits’ Coach Rob Miller said, "I think right now we’re where we need to be. We were sluggish in the first half, but in the second half, we were very aggressive. We definitely had our chances late. We just need to maintain that level of aggressiveness."

The only goal of the game was scored by Kalamazoo’s Ryan Trout just 2:30 into the second half. Trout got around a slide tackle by a Bandits’ defender and found himself with a point blank shot against goalkeeper Derek Orf, who was able to deflect the ball before it went into the goal. It was Trout’s team-leading tenth goal of the season.

The rest of the second half belonged to the Bandits. In the final 40 minutes of regulation, Lexington had two massive scrambles in front of the Kalamazoo net, struck two posts and a crossbar, and had five cornerkick opportunities. Unfortunately, the Bandits weren’t able to finish.

One of the many missed scoring chances for the Bandits came with 26:10 left in the game. Former Woodford County and UK product Sean Endicott lifted a cross to Moises Drumond, who settled the ball and struck a shot off the crossbar. A subsequent header by Scott Deopere sailed harmlessly over the goal.

The 1-0 setback marked the fourth time this season the Lexington club has been held scoreless in a game and kept the Bandits stuck in sixth place in the PDL’s Great Lakes Division one point behind the Dayton Gems. Meanwhile, Kingdom goalkeeper Carl Whitehouse posted his fourth shutout of the season.

This Friday’s home game for the Bandits will also be Lexington Youth Soccer Night. Any LYSA adults will be admitted to the game for just $5 and children for $3, with $1 from each LYSA ticket returned to the Lexington Youth Soccer Association.

Prior to Saturday’s clash with the mighty Mid Michigan Bucks, the Bandits will host their third instructional soccer clinic for children ages 6 to 14. The clinic is FREE for all children and will begin at 5 p.m. at Lexington Catholic High School. In addition, all clinic participants will be admitted FREE to Saturday’s game with a paying adult.

GAME BOX SCORE (JULY 1, 2000):

Kalamazoo Kingdom 0 1- 1
Bluegrass Bandits 0 0- 0
Goals: 1^st half-None; Kalamazoo (2^nd-42:30) Ryan Trout (unassisted); Goalkeepers: Bandits-Derek Orf, Kalamazoo-Carl Whitehouse; Records: Bandits 4-7, Kalamazoo 8-6.