Tiger Cub soccer wins WCC title

Friday, October 1, 2010

CLAYTON -- The Greencastle boys' soccer team traveled to Cascade Thursday and defeated the Cadets in overtime 2-1.

The win improved their conference record to 3-0 and earned the Tiger Cubs the West Central Conference title.

The Tiger Cubs dominated play in the first half, but failed to net a goal despite out-shooting the Cadets 11-1 and earning seven corner kicks. The match was scoreless at the break.

"We had many great chances in the first half to put the match away, but I have to give their keeper, Avery Franklin, a lot of credit," GHS head coach Dave Lilly said. "He made some fantastic saves to keep them in it."

The Tiger Cubs took a 1-0 lead with 30 minutes to play when Cody Watson passed to a streaking Sonney Basham. Basham touched the ball around a Cadet defender and then beat Franklin for the goal.

The Cadets managed to get the ball into the Tiger Cubs half a few times in the second half, but the Tiger Cubs seemed to have the match under control.

What appeared to be a second Basham goal for the Tiger Cubs was called off late in the period, and the Cadets tied the match with 4:30 remaining when Austin Lautenschlager hit a low shot past Greencastle keeper Kyle Parker.

The conference tiebreaker required the teams play two seven-minute overtime periods prior to taking penalty kicks if needed to determine a winner.

The first period was scoreless with the Cadets appearing to be playing to send the match to penalty kicks. The Tiger Cubs did earn a penalty kick with 5:21 to play in the match when a Cadet defender handled the ball inside the penalty area. Basham's penalty kick attempt was blocked by Franklin, however Josh Bonebrake crashed in following the shot and was able to head in the rebound to put the Tiger Cubs ahead 2-1.

Greencastle had a couple of late chances to extend the lead, including a nice shot by Evan Smith that just missed wide of the post, but the score remained 2-1 as time expired.

The Tiger Cubs (14--1) will return to Dee Monnett Field on Monday to host Owen Valley at 5:30 p.m. It will be the final home match of the season as well as senior night.

At Cascade

GHS 0 1 0 1 -- 2

CHS 0 1 0 0 -- 1

Goals -- S.Basham, J.Bonebrake (GHS)

Assists -- C.Watson, S.Basham (GHS)

Saves -- K.Parker (GHS) 3