JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — It’s never a good omen when turkey vultures circle over the home field.

On Monday October 2, the Sullivan West Bulldogs (0-2 league, 1-8 overall) took on the visiting Panthers of Monticello (1-2 league, 7-3 overall) in a non-league boys’ varsity soccer match.

In the first frame, things started to look promising for the Dawgs, as Roan Gillingham posted the first goal of the game at 33:58.

But then the omens took control of the game to give the Panthers a 4-1 lead at the half: Liam Evans (23:07), Evans (10;20), Damyan Granados (8:01) and Onyxx Clark (1:00).

The second half opened up with a hat trick by Clark as he scored a trio of goals in rapid succession (35:58, 33:01 and 28:29), a stunner that took the wind out of the home team.

At 27:34, Sullivan West responded with their second and final goal of the game as Alex Unser headed the ball into the net off a throw in assist by Hashim Gambari.

 Then it was off to the finish line by Monticello as they racked up three more goals to close out the scoring: Steban Medina (24:41), Roberto Velasquez (20:02) and Evans’ third goal at 13:13.

Game stats: shots on goal (SW 8, MHS 28), keeper saves (SW 13, MHS 6), and corner kicks (SW 2, MHS 4).

“With one win, we’re not really getting the results we’re looking for,” said Bulldogs coach Kai Murray.

“We started off well, had a one-to-zero lead and a penalty kick save,” he added, noting that in the second frame “it was very hard for us to contain them… Monticello is a very quick passing team.”

Looking for a few bright spots—every cloud has a silver lining—of the season, Murray said, “If you look a wins and losses, I’m somewhat disappointed, but as a team coming together, I see individual growth with a lot of players… you have to appreciate that as a coach… they play hard until the end.”

Nick Dworetsky is a 15-year old sophomore defenseman and midfielder at Sullivan West.

His take on soccer?

“It’s a team game. I like bonding with the guys… it’s like my family, on the field and off the field,” replied Dworetsky.

Luis Velasco is at the helm of the Panthers booters.

His view on the season?

“It’s going… we still have a lot of work to do to get this team to play as a team… trying to increase opportunities and chances inside the box.”

Velasco described Monti’s first 20 minutes of the match as “ugly,’ but “after that we started playing the ball…they relaxed a little bit.”

Maciej Bonar, an 18-year-old senior, guards the net for Monticello and posted six saves.

“I’m really passionate about the game of soccer, I just love it,” he said.

Speaking of omens, auspices, portents and the like, in the second half the vultures departed, and a vibrant monarch butterfly alighted on the Monticello net, perhaps in celebration of their victory.

For more photos, visit www.riverreporter.com.