Cougars fall for first time this season against Athenians

CRAWFORDSVILLE – North Putnam’s boys’ soccer team fell from the undefeated ranks with a 3-2 loss to Crawfordsville Thursday, but there are bigger goals on the horizon.

“We have at least a share of the conference championship,” Cougars coach Kyle Morgan said. “With a win Saturday, we win the league outright. It is the first conference title in school history, and the guys are really hungry for Saturday.

Looking ahead to Saturday may be forgivable for North Putnam, who fell to 10-1 with the loss. The A No. 13 ranked Cougars came from behind in the first half but couldn’t get the needed go-ahead goal in the second half.

“Crawfordsville is a good team, (Coach) Marcus (Hale) is a really good coach,” Morgan said. “They made some adjustments and doubled defensively on our shooters. We played well, we executed our game plan. Crawfordsville plays at another level with their schedule and that makes a difference. We put a lot of energy into that first half, and I kind of knew that whoever got a goal in the second would be in the driver’s seat. “

A hat trick and great second-half defense led Crawfordsville.

The Athenians got three goals from Jaziel Gil-Herrera, the junior doubling his season goal total, and Crawfordsville pitched a second-half shutout to move to 7-4 on the season.

“Tonight was his night,” Hale said of Herrera, who scored on penalty kicks 37 seconds apart in the first half, and then was there when a steal and deflection put the ball on his foot. He found the net with 26:11 left in the match and it was all defense from there.

The Cougars were the aggressors in the early stages, scoring in the first three minutes and then tying the game at 2-2 with 15 minutes left in the first half.

The visitors had 13 shots on Athenians goalkeeper Alec Saidian in that first half and, aside from the two penalty-kick goals, looked to stay unbeaten.

The Cougars opened the scoring early in the match as Brayden Chew took a pass from Nolan Hackleman and found the net.

After the back-to-back penalties for the Athenians, Hackleman scored with an assist from Isaac Polley.

The goal evened the match at 2-2, where things stood at the half.

Crawfordville’s third goal came during a scrum in from of Cougars goalie Michael Ali Jr.

The ball caromed once, deflected a second time and Herrera was there for the finish.

“Doing what he needed to do,” Hale said.

“If we clear the ball, we are fine,” Morgan said.

That lone goal was surrounded by a lot of defensive play as the Athenians kept the ball more and away from the Cougar strikers.

“We used to come up to Crawfordsville and get beat 7-0 or 6-1, and tonight we took them to one,” Morgan said. “Saturday we play for a conference championship. It shows the growth of the program.”

Hale echoed that thought.

“(North Putnam) is a very good team,” he said, “and coach Morgan has built a good program over the years. We wish them all the success in the world Saturday. I know and we know how important conference championships are.”

Both coaches even mentioned that in a couple years, this very matchup will be a conference affair.