Farrell Scores 3 Goals In Sullivan’s First Victory

Collin Farrell scored three goals Thursday to lead Sullivan past St. Clair 4-2 and give the Eagles their first victory of the season.

Sullivan (1-2-1) got out to a 1-0 lead on Farrell’s first goal late in the first half.

He scored again to begin the second half.

The Bulldogs got on the board to make it 2-1, but Jacob Brooks found the net and Farrell’s third goal put the game out of reach.

Head coach Bill Kackley said the team made a turnaround in the second half.

“We dodged some bullets (in the first half),” he said. “They attacked us and we were on our heels. They were dumping and we got caught off guard a little bit.”

St. Clair pushed their midfielders up more in the second half and the Eagles were able to take advantage by getting out wide and attacking. 

St. Clair was hosting its senior night and first home game. Add in the rivalry with Sullivan and emotions were high. 

“It probably wasn’t a pretty game for us, but we battled and came out on top,” Kackley said.

Sullivan goalkeeper Andrew Starr stopped four shots. The Eagles fired 19 shots at St. Clair keeper Collin Thacker.

The Eagles were coming off a three-game stretch to start the season where they held opposing teams in check, but were scoreless.

In the home opener Tuesday against Washington, Sullivan fell 3-0. They limited the Jays to just one goal in the first half.

Kackley was hoping the Eagles could hold them there.

“I said at the half, ‘let’s not be satisfied with that,’” he said. 

One of Washington’s goals came on a corner kick that Sullivan didn’t mark up on.

Timothy Boehlein scored twice for the Jays and Trent Pabst had one.

Starr stopped seven shots. His counterpart Caden Robertson had five saves.

Kackley said they earned Washington’s respect.

“They have a program where they have a lot of club kids and kids playing indoor. Their coach said after the game that we’re doing a good job. For us to graduate 11 kids and get beat just 3-0 is nothing to hang our heads about,” he said.

Lebanon Tournament

Sullivan lost the tournament opener Aug. 28 to West Plains, 2-0.

They returned the next day and ended in a 0-0 tie with Fair Grove. Lightning canceled the rest of the game and tournament.

“It was a bummer that everything got canceled,” Kackley said. 

Many of the Eagles players were facing their first significant varsity action and Kackley could tell they had jitters.

“A lot of them were nerved up,”  he said.

Sullivan missed an early opportunity to score and West Plains had goals in each half to come away with the win.

“We probably could have lost 1-0 or got into (penalty kicks),” Kackley said. “They were fast and physical.”

Playing the next day against Fair Grove, Sullivan controlled the game, but struggled to score.

“I think we would have won that game. We were going into halftime playing really well. That was a bummer. But I was happy with the tournament. We got some good experience in,” Kackley said.