The Andalusia High School Bulldogs soccer team kicked off their season Tuesday night with a strong effort, but fell to Eufaula 2-1 in Andalusia.

 

“I was a little apprehensive going into the game,” head coach Tim Ramsden said. “We are a very small team, and I was worried about how physically we would play. Eufaula is a big and experienced team, and we held our own with them. It was probably my proudest moment as a coach.”

 

Andalusia put the first goal in around the 10-minute mark in the first half. Wain Yongkuma got the goal, and Ellis Mount was credited with the assist.

 

“We had plenty of chances to win, but couldn’t convert on the chances,” Ramsden said. “Even though we didn’t win, it was a big win for us to be able to compete with such an experienced team. I tell my players to give me 110 percent, and the wins and losses will take care of themselves. They did that against Eufaula, and I couldn’t be more proud.”

 

The experienced Eufaula squad had eight senior starters, while the Andalusia squad has only one senior.

 

“We have a lot of young players, but they played very well and held their own with Eufaula,” Ramsden said. “Wain Yongkuma played very well, and Ben Jackson played great at goalie. He had some very good stops to keep the score close. I was also very pleased with our passing. We passed the ball very well, much better than I anticipated.”

 

Unlike Eufaula, who has just boys on the team, Andalusia had two girls in the starting lineup. Junior Shelbee Matthews and eighth grader Anna Brady both started for the Andalusia squad.

 

“I was very proud of Shelbee and Anna,” Ramsden said. “They played extremely hard, and held their own against the boys.”

 

The Bulldogs will be back in action today as they travel to Dothan. They will play Eufaula again on Feb. 16, in Eufaula. The next home game will be Feb. 19, against Providence.