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UGLY FINISH: Buffs fall in Regional

Published 10/24/2007

DODGE CITY -- Joaquin Padilla practices what he preaches.

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Garden City forward Jesus Gastelum stumbles over Dodge City goalkeeper Dalton Burkhard after a shot on goal during the last minutes of the first period of their 6A Regional match on Tuesday night at Dodge City.
Garden City forward Jesus Gastelum stumbles over Dodge City goalkeeper Dalton Burkhard after a shot on goal during the last minutes of the first period of their 6A Regional match on Tuesday night at Dodge City.

After watching his team struggle to a season-ending 3-0 loss at Dodge City in the first round of the Class 6A South Central regional, the Garden City High School boys soccer coach had the same postgame comments he has had all year, win or lose.

"We had ups and downs, we had good games we had bad games," Padilla said. "I wish we'd have had a good game today, but it didn't happen. They're a good team, but we couldn't play consistent all season."

At least he's consistent.

After showing glimpses of brilliance earlier in the year by playing toe-to-toe with Liberal, the consensus No. 1 team in the state, the Buffs (7-7-2) were eliminated from the post season by the Red Demons (9-6-2) in a shutout loss that featured three yellow cards, a red card and an own-goal -- all coming from Garden City.

Both Adrian Ramirez and Juan Ortiz were ejected from Tuesday's match, Ramirez after accumulating two yellow cards and Ortiz after notching a red card in the game's closing minutes.

"We get Dodge and Garden City, its going to happen," Padilla said. "It doesn't matter if its basketball, football or soccer. It always happens."

In reality, the man disadvantage caused by Ortiz's red card just added insult to injury in a game that was decided early in the second half.

After surrendering a goal in a relatively even first half, Garden City put a goal in their own net after Dodge City when midfielder Victor Mejia redirected a ball inside of the box after the Buffs failed to clear the ball. Goalkeeper Edgar Reyes was caught out of position by the change of direction, and the ensuing scramble to gain control by Garden City tapped the ball into the back of the net. The goal put the Buffs in a 2-0 hole from which they never recovered.

"When we scored the second goal ourselves, that was probably the back-breaker," Padilla said. ""When they play like that, when people start getting upset over some calls or things like that, you can't do much about that."

The Buffs frustration added to what was already an extremely physical match-up. Antonio Alvarez of Dodge City also had a yellow card in the second half, and the two teams had to be restrained after a scuffle broke out near midfield in the second half.

"I think both teams' emotions were high for that game," Red Demons coach Virgil Hutchcraft said. "Its a big rivalry for us, I don't even have to work to get them pumped up for it, they're ready and they pump themselves up."

The Red Demons would add a goal in the 65th minute to seal the shutout win and their second victory over the Buffs in three tries this year. Garden City tied Dodge City 0-0 at Memorial Stadium earlier in the season.




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