The Spalding High Jaguars soccer team jumped out to a 3-0 lead and didn’t look back, defeating the Dutchtown High Bulldogs 5-1 in Region 4-AAAA action at Memorial Stadium.

The Jags improve to 5-1 overall and are 2-0 in region play, good enough for first place. Dutchtown drops out of first with a record of 2-3, 2-1.

The Jags took the bite out of the Bulldogs early in the match. Evan Davis scored the match’s first goal on an assist from Keelen McIver and four minutes later, Alex Engal scored an unassisted goal to give the Jags the 2-0 lead. Jake Mathis scored the Jags final goal of the first half on an assist by Alec Jones for the 3-0 lead and the Jags looked to take that lead into halftime.

Dutchtown got a late goal from senior Kosi Izundu to make the score 3-1 and give the Bulldogs a chance to bark at halftime.

Spalding took the air out of the Bulldogs’ sails 20 seconds into the second half as Davis scored his second goal of the match off an assist from Jesse Stallings for the 4-1 lead.

“That goal early in the second half was big for us. Dutchtown was getting a boost of confidence having scored at the end of the first half and once we got our fourth goal, that took the starch out of them,” said Jags head coach Scott Henderson.

Spalding midfielder John Wesley headed a ball in for the Jags’ final goal off a corner kick to make the score 5-1.

Spalding had 19 shots total, including 11 shots on goal while Dutchtown had 12 shots, 6 on goal. The Jags had 9 corner kicks and Jags keeper Peter Strnad had 5 saves in the match.

The Jags get back into action Friday at region foe Woodland-Stockbridge (3-3, 2-0) at 7:30 p.m.

SPALDING HIGH BOYS

Date |Opponent |Time/Score

2/20 |Mt. Zion |W 5-0

3/1 |@ N. Clayton |W 3-0

3/7 |FPDS |W 2-0

3/9 |M. Persons |L 2-1

3/9 |Northside-WR |W 1-0

3/12 |Dutchtown |W 5-1

3/15 |@ Woodland |7:30

3/19 |@ Stockbridge |7:30

3/22 |@ E. Landing |8:00

3/29 |@ Luella |7:30

4/2 |Riverdale |5:00

4/5 |Griffin |8:00

4/9 |L. Grove |7:30

4/12 |@ Newnan 8:00

4/15 |Jonesboro |7:30

4/16 |@ LaGrange |7:30

4/19 |@ Upson-Lee |7:30