Tiger soccer breaks Indy streak

INDEPENDENCE -- Roger Rodriguez scored both Fort Scott goals on free kicks, including one from just outside the 18-yard box with around five minutes left to go here Monday, to give the Tiger soccer program just its second victory ever against Independence. The Bulldogs have won at least a share of all but one Southeast Kansas League championship since soccer became a league sport in 2002.

The 2-1 victory makes Fort Scott 2-0 in the SEK -- a first for the program. The Tigers beat Pittsburg 2-1 last Thursday.

Independence led 1-0 at the half on a goal by Lane Shickey. Rodriguez tied it when he converted a free kick from 35 yards out.

The loss was Independence's first in league play since Sept. 27, 2005, a 3-2 verdict against Pittsburg. The Bulldogs (0-1 SEK, 1-3 overall) had not lost in 49 league games since then (47-0-2). One of the two ties in the streak came against Fort Scott, a 2-2 draw on Sept. 7, 2010.

Fort Scott is 2-22-1 all-time against Indy. The Tigers beat the Bulldogs 2-1 in the first meeting of the 2002 season.

Fort Scott is 2-2 overall while Independence was coming off a week at the McPherson Tournament in which it lost its first two games by a combined 19-1 score before beating Wichita Independent, 2-1, in the seventh-place game on Saturday.

Tribune records indicate that this was just the sixth league match the Bulldogs have ever lost (71-6-2).

The Tigers will host Columbus at 4:30 Thursday at Ellis Park. Since Columbus is no longer a member of the SEK, the opportunity for the league-leading Tigers to go 3-0 in the league will have to wait until Sept. 18 at Pittsburg.