Sides’ goal the difference in Notre Dame’s win over Perryville

A pair of first-half goals was all the Notre Dame Bulldogs needed in their 2-1 win over the Perryville Pirates on Tuesday at Notre Dame Regional High School.

After a furious start by the Pirates, the Bulldogs were able to weather the storm.

“I think sometimes we are a little slow to get started,” Bulldogs coach Matt Vollink said. “Perryville came ready to play and they were putting pressure on us early.”

As the Bulldogs began to pile on chances of their own, Connor Adams finally managed to slip free and find the back of the net to make it 1-0 Bulldogs with just under 10 minutes to play in the first half.

“When you get that first goal it sort of takes the pressure off you a little bit,” Vollink said. “It puts the pressure back on them and allows you to take a breath and relax.”

With momentum building for Notre Dame, Perryville was awarded a penalty kick that Thomas Southard saved to keep the game 1-0.

“You expect your forwards to make big plays to change the momentum of the game,” Vollink said. “Your backs and your goalies are just as capable and if not more important in those moments to step up and save the game. Southard did an amazing job at that.”

Just minutes later, Bryce Sides scored to make it 2-0 after having multiple golden chances go by the wayside.

“He’s going (to be big for us) and I expect that,” Vollink said.

The Bulldogs entered halftime with a 2-0 lead.

Coming out of the half, Perryville was able to put on pressure to put the Bulldogs on their heels.

“With the two-goal lead sometimes you feel like you can relax,” Vollink said. “If the other team comes out hard, just like Perryville did, once again you’re on your backfoot and anxious because if they get one then they’re back in it.”

The Pirates would strike around the halfway point of the second half when Aden Garris scored on a penalty kick to make it 2-1.

“That’s where the focus comes back a little bit,” Vollink said. “You realize you have to start reeling the game back in again and getting control back and trusting what you need to be doing.”

The win for Notre Dame marked its first of the 2023 season and it comes after the Bulldogs suffered a 4-0 loss to John Burroughs on Saturday.

“John Burroughs is an exceptional team,” Vollink said. “Every game is a learning experience.”

Perryville (0-1) will have a week off before returning to action at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5, when they travel to take on Windsor (Imperial).

Notre Dame (1-1) will be back in action at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 31, when they host Carbondale (Ill.) at Notre Dame Regional High School in their opening game of the Notre Dame Soccerfest.

“We’re playing three exceptional teams in Carbondale, Borgia and Webster Groves,” Vollink said. “You’d much rather play really tough teams throughout the season and whether you lose a bunch of them or win a bunch of them, it makes you better.”