Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Madden Bailey of Fort Dodge goes up for a header against Sioux City East on Monday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Joe Jackson’s halftime speech worked, but after a tough first half, it wasn’t enough for the Dodgers.

Fort Dodge (0-3 overall) lost a 6-0 contest to Sioux City East (3-1) at Rogers Park in the Dodgers’ home opener.

“We had a discussion about effort,” Jackson said. “It wasn’t where it needed to be in the first half, and it showed.”

With the Dodger Relays running, Fort Dodge moved its match to Rogers Park.

The Dodgers found themselves in an early hole in the opening half, as the Black Raiders found the back of the net six times.

Sioux City East senior Beni Puelele had a hat trick, including a header. Puelele doubled his running season total to six goals.

Seniors Faustino Gomez-Fonseca, Diego Alferez and Jose Vasquez all kicked their first goals of the year.

The Dodgers buckled down in the second half and were able to keep the Black Raiders off the scoreboard.

“We played a lot better in the second half and the effort was there and we put pressure on them,” Jackson said. “We kept the intensity up.

“We definitely played better in the second half. This is a learning process and we have to try to keep improving.”

The Dodgers are back in action on Friday when they host Waterloo East in their first home match inside Dodger Stadium. The contest will be varsity only and start at 6 p.m.