Greencastle loses in tight soccer contest with Lebanon

Friday, August 23, 2013
Justin Hartman (12) hit a crossing pass to gave GHS a scoring chance during the first half against Lebanon on Thursday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

The Greencastle boys' soccer team came out exactly how it hoped against Lebanon on Thursday, spacing the field and finding open lanes to attack. The progress stalled, however, and the host Tiger Cubs lost 1-0.

Austin Strange scored the only goal, heading in a corner kick by Darrell Crowe less than four minutes into the second half.

"I'm not disappointed," GHS coach Dave Lilly said. "The score was good. I think it reflects the way (the game) was. ... I think they outplayed us, but it very easily could have ended up 0-0 or 1-1 tonight, too."

The Tiger Cubs were dominating stretches of the first half but they failed to capitalize on a number a quality runs. In Monday's season-opener, a win over Monrovia, GHS had spacing issues.

That wasn't a problem in Thursday's first half and it helped create a number of scoring opportunities that they team failed to finish. That gave the team a bit of false confidence, Lilly said, and caused them to slip back into their old ways after the break.

"We started out having good shape and space and we put some good combinations together," he said. "And then we felt like we were dominating them so we got back to that, playing directly (style) and trying to rush our scoring opportunities."

The Tigers took control quickly after the break, forcing more action into Greencastle's zone and keeping constant pressure for the first 10-15 minutes of action.

The Tiger Cubs, a young and inexperienced team carrying a small roster, began to tire.

GHS put on a charge, capped by a tremendous run from senior Paul Heithaus, but his shot clanged off the crossbar with 27:45 remaining.

Their last best chance to tie the game came with 1:05 left. A foul just outside the left wing of the 18-yard box gave the Tiger Cubs a free kick opportunity.

With a wall of intimidated defenders in front of him, sophomore Zach Wilkerson attempted to bend his kick in on net. The ball rattled around but Lebanon cleared the zone, essentially finishing the game.

"We didn't have nearly as many scoring opportunities as we had Tuesday night," Lilly said. "I think they outworked us (physically). ... They were definitely deeper than us and they definitely outworked us."

Greencastle gets back to it on Saturday at the Cougar Invitational at Greenfield Central, a high level of competition that will challenge the Tiger Cubs (1-1) and help show the squad the level it needs to reach by the end of the year.

"They've got their work cut out for them," Lilly said. "But that's what we need. We need to play teams like this."



At Greencastle
Lebanon................0 1 -- 1
Greencastle...........0 0 -- 0

Scoring summary
2nd half

36:20 -- LEB: Strange (Crowe assist), 1-0

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