SOCCER SECTIONALS: Cubs top Northview to reach sectional finals

Friday, October 5, 2018

Greencastle is going for its second straight Class 2A boys soccer sectional championship on Saturday night at Dee Monnett Field. And the rematch with West Vigo is just what coach J.D. Sims hoped for when the tournament draw was announced.

“When we came into the sectional I wanted to play the teams that beat us (in the regular season) because we lost to West Vigo (5-1) and we lost to Northview (5-4). We could have played better in both of those games. Getting the draw we did I was extremely excited to prove that we can beat a top team,” Sims said.

Greencastle (10-6-1), the defending champion, moved into the title game Wednesday night with a 2-0 victory over Northview (10-5-2). And West Vigo (12-3-1) completed Sims’ rematch scenario with a 3-0 win over Sullivan.

The Greencastle-Northview rivalry carries over from sport to sport at Greencastle. The players know each other off the fields and courts and those relationships fuel the contests.

“We were really very motivated to beat Northview tonight. Losing in the regular season (to Northview) was not one of our plans. Northview is usually one of the teams we compete with, a lot of the boys know their boys. It’s a fun rivalry,” Sims said.

The two teams that combined for nine goals in their Western Indiana Conference contest played to a scoreless tie at halftime. For the night, unofficially, Greencastle outshot Northview 10-8. Greencastle goalkeeper Kaleb Troxal had eight saves and Northview’s Dylan Boor had five, unofficially.

“Based on the way we’ve improved our defense, and I’ve seen some results of (their games) recently, I knew probably it would be a lower-scoring game,” Northview coach Aaron Crawn said.

Jakob Foss didn’t score either of Greencastle’s goals, but set up both scores for Ivan Glotzbach, who is on a scoring roll, and Ben Parsons, who might want to buy a lottery ticket after the bounce he got on a midfield shot.

After a scoreless first half, Greencastle took a 1-0 lead on Glotzbach’s goal. Foss, who does not officially get an assist for the play, made a crossing pass from the left side over the middle. Glotzbach emerged from the crowd of players to put the ball into the net with 28:28 left in the game.

It’s a play coach Sims has been waiting to see the Tiger Cubs execute all season.

“We’ve kind of struggled all year to shoot and then have players in the box in case we have that fumble. Having Ivan (Glotzbach) in there... he scored two goals in the first sectional game (against South Vermillion). He’s just kind of on a roll. He’s been in the right spot at the right time. It’s been nice to have,” Sims said.

Eight minutes later Foss “won” a midfield battle for the ball and a foul set up a free kick from midfield (right on the line) for Parsons.

“Jakob Foss is our center attacking midfielder. He’s a key part of our attack. A lot of our attack flows through him and when he’s on it’s (great),” Sims said.

Parsons kicked the ball long and high right in the middle of the goal frame. The Northview goalkeeper had ample time to defend the shot. What the keeper didn’t have time was to react to the huge bounce the ball took over his head into the net.

“Sometimes you get a little luck in soccer. I’ll take it,” Sims said with a laugh.

With three minutes to go Greencastle keeper Kaleb Troxal preserved the shutout with a save off a Northview free kick.

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Next game: On Saturday at 7 p.m., at Greencastle Middle School, Greencastle (10-6-1) plays West Vigo (12-3-1) in the Class 2A Sectional championship game.

In other soccer:

Bethesda Christian 2, North Putnam 0 (boys) — The Cougars’ season ended Wednesday evening in the first round of sectionals against Bethesda Christian.

“The Cougars missed a few players due to injuries and early mistakes led to goals from the Patriots,” coach Kyle Morgan said. “The Cougars played a much improved second half but simply couldn’t find the back of the net. The Cougars finish the season with a 4-7-4 record.

North Putnam 3, South Vermillion 2 (girls) — In the Southmont Sectional during first-round action on Tuesday, freshman Annabelle Gross scored the game-winning goal for the Lady Cougars.

Junior Grace Fry had the other two goals for North Putnam.

North Putnam 2, Monrovia 1 (girls, in 2OT) — On Thursday, the Lady Cougars won their sectional semifinal game with Monrovia 2-1 in a shootout.

The Bulldogs struck first with an early goal in the first half, but the Lady Cougars tied the game with a Hannah Sims goal before halftime.

The two teams played hard, but neither side could score in the second half.

Grace Fry scored the only goal during a sudden death shootout to give North Putnam the win.

“I am so proud of the girls’ effort,” North coach James Hilton said. “They played for each other to the end and deserve to be in the sectional final Saturday.”

The Lady Cougars are one win away from becoming the first soccer team in school history to win a sectional.

Southmont 6, Greencastle 3 (girls) — For the second straight year, the Mounties eliminated the Tiger Cubs from the sectional tournament.

IHSAA soccer sectionals

BOYS’ SECTIONALS

Class 2A at Greencastle

Monday

Greencastle 7, South Vermillion 0

Northview 7, Owen Valley 1

Wednesday

Greencastle 2, Northview 0

West Vigo 3, Sullivan 0

Saturday

7 p.m. — Greencastle vs. West Vigo in championship

__Class 1A at Brownsburg

Monday

Covenant Christian 8, Cascade 0

Wednesday

Bethesda Christian 2, North Putnam 0

Covenant Christian 4, Covington 2

Saturday

7 p.m. — Bethesda Christian vs. Covenant Christian in championship

GIRLS’ SECTIONAL

Class 1A at Southmont

Tuesday

North Putnam 3, South Vermillion 2

Monrovia 4, Cascade 3

Thursday

North Putnam 2, Monrovia 1 (2OT)

Southmont 6, Greencastle 3

Saturday

2 p.m. — North Putnam vs. Southmont in championship