Cougars lose weather-shortened soccer game at Tri-West 7-0

Wednesday, September 11, 2013
North Putnam defenseman Parker Coffman clears the ball out of the zone during a match earlier this year. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

LIZTON -- Thirty seconds into the North Putnam boys' soccer game against the Tri-West Bruins, Cougars coach David Moeller and the rest of the Cougar faithful knew it could be a long night.

"Tri-West is one of the best teams we will play all year," Moeller said.

The first goal was scored when NPHS senior defender Trevor Troyer tried to clear the ball but accidentally kicked it into his own net and put Tri-West up 1-0 with 39:30 left in the half.

The Bruins added six more goals to secure a weather-shorted 7-0 win.

With the early help, Tri-West scored four more times before the half came to a close.

Moeller said he planned for the offense to take a small step back in the matchup against a talented opponent.

"I wanted to play more defensive minded because I knew they were going to be so good," he said. "We need to work on scoring."

The Cougar offense only got one shot off, one by senior Ben Hazelgrove.

It was also essential to focus on the defensive side of the field because the clubs normal goalkeeper, sophomore Bailey Allen, missed the game to rest an injury.

"Bailey hurt his hip, and he did not want to mess it up more. He wanted to be ready for Thursday's game against Greencastle," Moeller said. "Nick (Kaufman) did a pretty good job back there. He is really quick in goal. He does not have very much experience."

On a hot day when many games in the area were cancelled or postponed, and with thunderstorms moving in, the second half began with dark skies.

Nearing the end of the first half the attendees sensed that it would rain after seeing all the cloud cover and the temperature drop almost 15 degrees in a span of mere minutes.

The second half was shortened in length to try to get all the game in but the referees decided to call the game with 15 minutes and 14 seconds left.

North Putnam will look to regain some momentum when it hosts county rival Greencastle on Thursday at 5 p.m.



At Tri-West
North Putnam..............0 0 -- 0
Tri-West......................5 2 -- 7

Scoring:
1st half
TW 39:30 -- Troyer (wrong net), 1-0
TW 32:09 -- Stroup. 2-0
TW 31:38 -- Pfiefer 3-0
TW 16:07 -- Brown 4-0
TW 2:32 -- Garland 5-0

2nd half
TW 23:53 -- Garland 6-0
TW 19:54 -- Kolditz 7-0

Saves: Kaufman 16.

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