Tiger Cubs soccer dominates Patriots in 2-1 win

Friday, September 6, 2013
Greencastle freshman Kaitlin Kessler (18) chases after the ball in a match earlier this year. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

The Greencastle girls outscored, outshot and outplayed the visiting Terre Haute North Patriots for a 2-1 soccer victory at Dee Monnett Field Thursday night.

With goals by Sydney Secrest and Kaitlin Kessler and the goal play of Amelia Smith, Greencastle improved to 4-2 on the season. This was a scheduled varsity game between the two schools, but Terre Haute North sent its junior varsity to play the contest.

"This team has just improved 10-fold from last year and they wanted it tonight," Greencastle coach Jamie Grivas said.

Grivas said the Tiger Cubs learned from an earlier loss and played aggressive soccer against the Patriots.

"The two games we lost earlier this year, one we should not have lost and we lost it because ... we went out the first half and sat on our heels and didn't move to any balls. We just let the other team walk all over us and tonight that was the big difference. We stepped to every single ball," Grivas said.

The Tiger Cubs outshot the Patriots 20-10 for the night and Greencastle's sophomore keeper made six saves in goal for the win. The Tiger Cubs attempted two shots on goal in the first three minutes of the second half.

"We're still working on our finishing. We're getting the shots, unfortunately sometimes we're placing them right into the goalie's hands," Grivas said.

After a scoreless first half, Secrest turned a pass from teammate Mary Parker into the game's first goal with 29:28 left in the game.

Just five minutes later, Kessler made it 2-0. Victoria Sampson, dribbling from the corner, dropped a pass off to Kessler for a slant shot into the net and a 2-0 Greencastle lead.

The Patriots got on the scoreboard with 13:46 to play, and had four shots at tying the game, but either Smith in goal or Secrest or senior defenders Maria Gomez and Brittany Friars came up with blocks or steals to preserve the victory. The Patriots had the ball deep in the Tiger Cubs' territory most of the final three minutes, but couldn't score.

"Last year we started with the flat-back four (defense) and we were getting the hang of it. But this year I really think we're playing it beautifully. They're working really well and communicating with each other. (And) a big shout out to our goalie, Amelia Smith, for helping direct that (defense)."

Greencastle returns to action Tuesday at Terre Haute South at 7 p.m.



At Greencastle
Terre Haute North..........0 1 -- 1
Greencastle....................0 2 -- 2

Scoring summary
2nd half
G: 29:28 -- Secrest (Parker), 1-0
G: 24:00 -- Kessler (Sampson), 2-0
T: 13:46 -- 2-1

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