Aurora started its second year with an indoor soccer team.
Indoor soccer is similar to outdoor soccer, but teams play six-on-six and play the ball off the walls and there are not any offsides.
Coach Charlie Hill said last year the team didn’t score many goals and was out-matched in skill level, but the team took a risk on deciding in which division to compete.
This year, the team has 20 players and competes in the beginner and intermediate levels. Assistant coach is Jeremy Scholbrock.
“We were pleased on the turn out because now we can break down into skill levels and be competitive,” Hill said.
Hill said a team can have 14 players, so some of Aurora’s members will be able to play at beginner and at intermediate.
Members of the Dawgs C Team are Mason Hill, Joscelyn Hill, Bryce Hill, Cody Corcoran, Juan Trejo, Sergio Rodriguez, Michael Bray, Michael Helms, Dillon Mattox, Cory Halsted, Johnny Lindeman, Slatter Childress, Zea Scholbrock and Dillon Mattox.
Members of the Dawgs B Team are Ridge Hill, Austin High, Jose Valenciano, Emanuel Rios, Fabian Sacker, Bryce Hill, Bray, Corcoran, Rodriguez, Trejo, Lindeman, Dillion Childress, Mason Hill and Sean Galvez.
The Dawgs have three games under their belt for the season. All games are held in Springfield at Lake Country Soccer Club, 2234 East Pythian Drive.
Dawgs C Team
In the first game, the C team was defeated 16-2 by the Cardinals. Aurora had 11 shots on goal. Bray and Helms scored the first two goals of the season. Mason Hill, the goalie, had 29 saves.
In the second game, the Dawgs faced off with the Juicy J’s. In the first half, Aurora led 4-3, but fell short and lost 9-8. Mason Hill had 12 saves. Bryce Hill and Helms had three goals each, while Trejo and Rodriguez scored once.
In the third game, Aurora  battled USA Trojans from Mt.Vernon for the first win of 11-1. Mason Hill had 21 saves. Helms had three goals, and assisted one goal to Lindeman. Childress also scored, while Bryce Hill had two goals and Bray, Trejo and Rodriguez scored a goal for the Dawgs.
The schedule for the C Team is:
• March 13 -- 9:30 a.m. vs. Juicy J
• March 13  -- 2:30 p.m. vs. Cardinals
• March 14 -- 9:30 a.m. vs. Cassville
• March 20 -- 10:30 a.m. vs. Cassville
• March 30 -- 12:30 p.m. vs. USA Trojans
Dawgs B Team
In the first game, Aurora faced the Acers and hoped for a win, but illnesses and teammates out of town left the Dawgs short on substitutes.
Scoring for the Dawgs were Sacker and Rodriguez in the first half, putting Aurora tied at two.
With less than six minutes left in the game, Aurora wore down, and the Acers took advantage. Aurora lost 2-7.
Trejo, Bray, Sacker, High, and Valenciano scored for the Dawgs, giving Aurora the 5-4 win.
The third game was a schedule change, so the Cougars would not have to forfeit one of their games. So with one day to recoup from the last victory, Aurora challenged SSC 95/96 I, a Springfield team.
Aurora led 5-1 in the first half with scores coming from Rios, Corcoran, Sacker, High and Sacker.
Aurora narrowly lost 7-8.
Bryce Hill had 27 saves. The Dawgs took 37 shots, seven of which were goals -- 13 were online and 17 missed all together.
The remaining games are as follows:
• March 13 -- 7:30 p.m. vs. Cassville
• March 20 -- 4:30 p.m. vs. West Plains Strikers
• March 21 -- 5:30 p.m. vs. West Plains Strikers
• March 27 -- 1:30 p.m. vs. Acers
• March 27 -- 6:30 p.m. vs. Cassville
The team is looking for places to practice during the week.
The team currently practices at the armory gym and junior high gym when time allows.
If anyone has suggestions on facilities the team can use, call Hill at 693-1644
or e-mail westridge8
@yahoo.com.