Tiger Cubs can't hurdle Mustangs on senior night

Greencastle senior Paul Heithaus attempts to head a ball into the net off a free kick during the first half against Edgewood on Tuesday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

The Greencastle boys' soccer team came out with energy and enthusiasm for Tuesday's game against Edgewood but the hosts couldn't parlay that into a win.

The Tiger Cubs lost on senior night 2-0.

"Guys have done work for four years and I want them to get the recognition on senior night," GHS coach Dave Lilly said. "We had some chances; they had some chances."

Effort wasn't an issue for Greencastle as the players were flying around the field and chasing after the ball, but the group had troubles controlling their passes and staying within themselves.

Part of that the nervous energy of the team's six seniors -- Jaymz Neumann, Zane Miller, Paul Heithaus, Isaac Harms, Tanner Dean and Oscar Mitchell -- and part was working in unfamiliar positions.

Because it was the team's final scheduled home game, Lilly allowed his seniors to make up their own lineup, putting players in spots where they'd have fun instead of where they've become accustomed to playing.

That dissonance showed early and Edgewood capitalized.

Mustangs senior Jackson Snyder rocketed a shot past junior goalkeeper Alex Briones 11 minutes into the game. Senior Brandon Altop ripped another ball past Briones with five minutes left in the half.

The seniors were honored at halftime and emerged as a new group after the break. With the lineup back to a more practiced order Greencastle's defense shored up and its offense started to get more possessions.

"In the second half we went back to more of how we've been playing," Lilly said. "The result still could have been the same."

Edgewood's defenders clamped down as and the Mustangs used their superior speed and quickness to trap the Tiger Cubs as they approached scoring position and diffuse their chances before they could develop.

Heithaus led GHS with seven shots, many of them quality looks, but Edgewood's senior keeper Alex Driver was unfazed.

The Tiger Cubs switched goalkeepers twice in the second half, first after Miller requested a chance in net on his final regular season at Monnett Field, and again when Miller joined Briones on the attack for a final push to score.

Lilly said he was confident that first goal would give his team the momentum it needed to come all the way back.

"We were knocking, knocking, knocking," he said. "If we could have made it 2-1 I think they guys may have finished it."

Greencastle has a rescheduled game at Owen Valley on Thursday and plays at Terre Haute North next Tuesday.

With the season starting to wind to a close, Lilly said he is keeping an eye toward sectionals when he strategies and monitors the action in their final few contests.

"I want to be careful with the guys we have," he said. "We'll make sure we work on a few things and get ready for whoever we draw for sectionals."

The game as Owen Valley begins at 5 p.m.

At Greencastle
Edgewood ..............2 0 -- 0
Greencastle............0 0 -- 0