North Putnam drops contest to Cascade

ROACHDALE -- North Putnam's boys' soccer team honored six seniors Monday night in a final home WCC clash against Cascade.

Though the Cougars took the game to the Cadets throughout much of the first half, the Cadets scored once in the first half and three times in the second half to win 4-0.

Ben Hazelgrove sent an early warning shot four minutes into the first half with a header that was saved by Cascade goalkeeper Brian McConnell.

The Cadet's first chance of the game came seven minutes in when Hayden Suter shot straight at Bailey Allen.

Hazelgrove nearly set up Zach Hunter, but hit a cross too close to McConnell before a moment of controversy hit the Cougars.

Senior Dean Klieber thought he had put the hosts up 1-0 after bracing through on goal, but was ruled offside, much to the dismay of the North Putnam fans and players.

Daljot Bajwa missed a chance two minutes later, after Suter played him and Bajwa blasted wide, but made no mistake after that.

Picking the ball up on the right, Bajwa flew past the Cougar defense and, even though Allen got a hand to the shot, Bajwa shot looped it over and into the net.

North's offense steadily picked up and Klieber shot twice straight at McConnell before Taylor Zaring's shot briefly fooled the keeper.

Bajwa nearly had a second for Cascade, though, only to be denied by the post after he slid a shot past Allen.

Kyle Jeter was denied by the frame five minutes from the end of the first half when his header from a Jacob Hendershot corner crashed off the crossbar.

Hazelgrove then had a chance to hit into an open net but his sliding shot from an acute angle hit the side netting.

Hendershot cleared a Suter shot five minutes into the second half, but came up injured and the loss of the senior in the defense was felt immediately.

Bajwa turned provider as his cross from the right bounced around before Suter picked his spot and doubled the Cascade lead.

Bajwa was denied two minutes later by Allen, but was persistent and got his second two minutes later after coming down the left and slotting past Allen.

Allen later came off second best in a challenge with Bajwa and was replaced by Nick Kaufman.

Kaufman turned away a Bajwa effort three minutes after coming on but was unable to prevent Bajwa's hat-trick with six minutes to play.

Bajwa took a free kick from 30 yards out that took a deflection before ending up in the back of the net.

For the majority of the second half, North Putnam found itself on the defensive as Cascade poured forward after its first half lead.

North Putnam head coach David Moeller said that had the Cougars gotten the lead in the first half, the game might have played out differently.

"We were unlucky not to score a couple of goals in the first half," Moeller said. "I thought Dean was onside on once chance. He's unlucky."

"We didn't really have any energy after they scored their second goal. They were pushing a lot more people forward and we weren't able to handle it."

Moeller pointed out the job that Nick Kaufman did in goal when Bailey Allen was forced off with an injury.

"Nick did a good job of stepping in there. He's done that before in practice, when we were looking at options in case Bailey ever had to come out," Moeller said.

"He's done a good job in practice and did well tonight. He wasn't afraid to come out, even after what happened to Bailey earlier."

Moeller also mentioned the work of seniors Hendershot, Klieber, Zaring, Brady Woods, Lance Clodfelter and Ryan Raupp.

"They're a great group of guys and I've enjoyed coaching them all four years. They all have their different qualities that they bring to the team," Moeller said.

"A couple of them were sitting near the end of the game and we struggled without them. They're integral members of the team and they've been a great group of guys I've worked with."

North Putnam travels to Monrovia today and Moeller said that the biggest thing needed was concentration for a full match.

"We need to play a full 80 minutes. We need to eliminate mental lapses and if we have a good team effort for 80 minutes, we'll do alright."

At North Putnam

Cascade 4

North Putnam 0

First half

CAS -- Bajwa 21:42

Second Half

CAS -- Suter 32:10

CAS -- Bajwa 27:40

CAS -- Bajwa 6:25

Next match -- North Putnam travels to Monrovia on Wednesday.