OBSERVER Staff Report

The Dunkirk High School varsity boys soccer team kicked off its first home game of the season Saturday morning with a hard-fought 2-2 tie against Salamanca/Cattaraugus-Little Valley.

Dunkirk fell behind 2-0 early in the first half on goals by Salamanca/Cattaraugus-Little Valley’s Neland Cummings and Darec Funke.

The Marauders started to hit their stride late in the first half and cut the deficit in half with a goal headed in by Adam Sanchez on a corner kick from Gus Mendoza. Dunkirk continued to work hard and tied the game early in the second half by another goal from Sanchez, assisted by Nick Hayes.

Dunkirk had a quality chance to put the game away in the last 30 seconds of play with a point-blank shot from Sanchez, but the visiting goaltender came up with the save to send the game to overtime.

In the extra period, Dunkirk carried the play but just couldn’t put the game away. Dunkirk goalkeeper Tristan Skelly had six saves. Miguel Sanchez, Matt Hanlon and Bryson Travis had strong games for Dunkirk, according to Dunkirk head coach E.J. Hayes.