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Cougar soccer falls in sectional opener
AVON -- It was a rough night for the North Putnam girls' soccer team in its opening game of the Avon Sectional. The Cougars lost to Crawfordsville 7-1 and ended the season at 3-12-2.
The first half was one to forget for the Cougars. The Athenians jumped on the Cougars early and often.
"We just started out so poorly and so ineffective with everything. All we did was chase," Cougar head coach Scott Spencer said.
Katie Conklin was first to score for Crawfordsville, connecting on a goal with 30:47 on the clock. The Athenians added four more goals in the half, with freshman Haley Horner providing two goals.
The Cougars were outshot 10-0 in the first half and keeper Kate Williams had three saves.
The second half saw a more energized North Putnam squad take the pitch.
The first goal of the second half came when Hannah Fink sent a shot to the back of the net with 35:28 on the clock. Teammate Stephanie Wethington added the Athenians' final goal at the 31:05 marks.
"In the second half I think we got a little mad and that's what we needed to do," Spencer commented. "I'm pleased with the effort that we put out in the second half. The effort and the energy were good."
North Putnam recorded its only goal of the evening when freshman Brooke Hadley slashed her way through the Crawfordsville defense and scored with 28:17 on the clock.
While allowing five goals on 10 shots in the first half, the Cougar defense held the Athenians to only two goals on 12 shots in the second.
Williams collected eight saves in the second half.
"We don't walk off the field with our head hanging low. We know we have places to go. We've got improvements to make and we'll do that next season," Spencer said.
North Putnam will lose Cara Horn and Ashlee Pinney to graduation, but Spencer was impressed with his young players and believed good things are in store for the team next season.
"The younger players did really well," Spencer noted. "The bulk of this team is freshman and sophomores. Taylor White probably had the game of her life tonight. Brooke Hadley has played great soccer for us this season.
"Rachel Kientz, Alisha Donaldson and Shannon Knoblett are three young people who are going to take over and own this defense next year," Spencer commented.
At Avon
North Putnam 0 1 -- 1
Crawfordsville 5 2 -- 7
First half
Crawfordsville -- Conklin (30:27)
Crawfordsville -- Horner (27:30)
Crawfordsville -- CHS goal (24:52)
Crawfordsville -- Fink (19:02)
Crawfordsville -- Horner (7:32)
Second Half
Crawfordsville -- Fink (35:28)
Crawfordsville -- Wethington (31:05)
North Putnam -- Hadley (28:17)
Team Stats
Shots -- NP 2, CHS 22.
Saves -- NP 11, CHS 0.
Corner Kicks -- NP 0, CHS 4.