The Bulldogs soccer team beat Eagle Valley, 2-1, on Saturday in a game that was every bit as close as the score indicated.

After the game, Moffat County head coach Jeff Ham–mond said that if a few calls had gone the other way, the Devils might have left town with a victory.

“In a one-goal game, it could go either way,” Hammond said.

With the win, the Bulldogs improved to 6-3 in the Western Slope League, and 4-5 overall.

Moffat County scored first when senior Captain Schuyler Hammond found the back of the net on a direct kick.

Coach Hammond said direct kicks are something the team has been focusing on all season. He said this was the fourth or fifth time this season that the Bulldogs scored on a direct kick.

Early in the season, the Bulldogs had trouble maintaining focus after they scored, but Saturday, the Bulldog defense kept the pressure on the Devils to take a 1-0 lead into halftime.

Coach Hammond said the Bulldogs are “way past” having trouble staying focused.

“Now, we’re focused on keeping our energy level up for the whole 40 minutes,” he said.

The Devils had a few scoring opportunities late in the first, but couldn’t score. Their best chance came when senior midfielder John Gabriel had an open look but missed the goal to the right.

Eagle Valley tied the score early in the second half, but the Bulldogs answered back quickly with a goal by sophomore Scott Smith to regain the lead.

Coach Hammond said the team has been trying to be aggressive right after a goal is scored on them.

“That’s when the other team is the most vulnerable,” Hammond said.

The Bulldogs should have had more scoring chances, Hammond said, but some on the team were tired late in the game.

“We should have had more quality shots, but our guys up front were getting tired,” he said.

This was the second match between Moffat County and Eagle Valley, in the previous meeting, the Bulldogs beat the Devils on the road, 5-3.

Hammond said Eagle Valley’s 1-6-1 record in the Western Slope and 2-5-1 record overall is misleading.

“Their record doesn’t indicate the quality of team they are,” he said.

Next up for the bulldogs is Glenwood Springs at home Tuesday.

The Bulldogs are hoping to avenge an earlier loss to Glenwood Springs.

“We’re pumped up for this one,” Schuyler Hammond said.

The game starts at 4 p.m.

Brandon Johansson can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 213, or bjohansson@craigdailypress.com.