FORT JONES – The last time Etna and Butte Valley tangled, the Bulldogs shredded the Lions. It was a different story in the rematch, with Etna holding the lead at the half 3-2, and Butte Valley tying the match at the end of regulation on a penalty kick.

Although the end result wasn’t bad for the Lions, who have had difficulty all season, the game started poorly. Butte Valley scored five minutes into the contest and again at the 10-minute mark, taking a 2-0 lead. Both goals were scored by Jose Luis Gonzalez.

The Lions, however, counter attacked just as quickly. Leading goal scorer Erik Anaya broke into the clear with a pass from Juan Castaneda and found the back of the Bulldog net, making it 2-1 at 13 minutes. Anaya and Castaneda hooked up again three minutes later. This time it was Castaneda with the goal and Anaya with the assist.

Twenty-two minutes into the first half, Javier Hansen netted his fourth of the season to give the Lions a 3-2 lead, going into the intermission.

Butte Valley tied it in the fiftieth minute on a goal by Ricardo Andrade, but just one minute later Castaneda tallied his second goal to give the Lions back the lead 4-3. Anaya again had the assist.

Butte Valley’s Andrade notched his second goal to tie the match in the fifty-fifth minute, 4-4.

With 15 minutes remaining to play, Castaneda took a corner kick from the right side. Not realizing that his team had the corner, Anaya was late getting into position. His late arrival caught the Bulldogs off guard, and Anaya was able to get past the defense and head in the low kick from Castaneda, giving the Lions a 5-4 lead.

Over the final 15 minutes of the game, Butte Valley showed increasing signs of frustration, yelling at each other, and frequently using two-hand pushes in the back to dislodge Lions from the ball. The center official failed to make the calls.

The Bulldogs caught a break in the final seconds of the match, when Marcos Tapia had a partial breakaway and was fouled in the penalty area. Tapia was awarded a penalty kick, which he converted, ending the game in a 5-5 draw.

For the Lions, a draw with the Bulldogs was another sign of progression in what has been a tough season. The Bulldogs, 6-3-1, are one of the top teams in the county, and beat Etna 7-1 earlier in the season. Etna (1-8-1) hosts Trinity (3-9-0) this Thursday at 5:00 pm. Etna lost to Trinity in their first meeting, 7-2.