The Sept. 3 game could’ve been decided at any moment of the second half, but overtime was needed in the Mexico boys soccer home opener.

After a scoreless second half that kept the score tied at 1 between Mexico and district rival Fulton, Marc Cadena Catala finally ended the drought to hand Mexico a 2-1 overtime loss. It was the second straight overtime game for Mexico following a 3-2 victory at Elsberry via penalty kicks and third one-goal game.

Head coach Bill Gleeson said the game-winning goal was “a little fluke in the back” after the teams played a contested game up to that point. This was especially true in the second half when the shots were about even at an 11-9 Fulton advantage. 

Mexico vs Fulton Photo Gallery

“It was going to come down to who wants it a little bit more," Gleeson said. "Just give everything you got." 

There were so many close calls in the second half. Within the first few minutes, Mexico missed the goal post by inches and then Fulton missed the post by inches. This continued and Alex Matuz-Sanchez and Bryce Burg made key plays in the net for Mexico and Fulton, respectively.

Matuz-Sanchez stepped into the goalie role for Mexico starting this season and collected 13 saves against Fulton, including seven in the second half. Gleeson said he did play keeper when he was younger, but he has been impressed with his transition to the position three games deep into the season.

“He’s good in the field, too, so we wondered whether we should put him in,” Gleeson said. “He has shown great stamina and great brain in the goal. Because he’s fast and has field play experience, he’s able to come out and play the ball more with his feet. He knows when he should come out and when he should stay back.”

The junior goalie has stood out in Mexico’s first three games as they have all been low-scoring affairs. Mexico lost its season opener 3-2 at Eugene before the 3-2 win at Elsberry and the late loss to Fulton. 

This also means the defense, which Gleeson was excited about going into the year, has played well together. Mexico’s back line is filled with upperclassmen, and Gleeson went in expecting much from most of his upperclassmen. There have been others who has impressed him like freshman Dominick Garcia on defense and junior Israel Hernandez-Jarquin in the midfielder after not initially being in the starting lineup.

“Everybody adds a whole lot of extra little things,” Gleeson said. “They all have settled in and really have stepped up and done a lot for us.”

The Fulton game was another good showing by the defense, Gleeson said, after allowing too many breakaways by the Hornets in the first half. Fulton displayed some good tackling to stymie scoring opportunities, but Mexico cut off Fulton most of the time when there was a scoring threat.

“We had a little nerves at the beginning, but we finally settled into our style of play,” Gleeson said.

Uriel Jarquin-Vasquez has been Mexico’s best attacker on the offense, starting the season with a three-game scoring streak. He had the only Bulldog goal against Fulton when he tied the game in the 19th minute, and Gleeson has liked the offense from another Bulldog.

“Nate Galloway is probably the most versatile one that we have,” Gleeson said. “We’ve played him on the back line when we need an extra on the back line, but we can also move him up and play mid sometimes. He’s also been a good scorer for us.”

Mexico hosts Chillicothe at 3 p.m. Saturday.