Strong season ends for NP with sectional loss to Western Boone

North Putnam freshman Emilee Henninger advances the ball during Monday's sectional match. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

For the third time in eight days the North Putnam girls' soccer competed against--and lost to--Western Boone on Monday. The third iteration came in the opening round of the Indiana High School Athletic Association sectional tournament, ending the Cougars' season with a 2-0 defeat.

The Stars took command of the game early and kept it throughout the first half, attempting 18 shots before the Cougars attempted their first, a breakaway attempt by freshman Christa McRoy with 1:48 remaining.

NPHS coach Willie Gaskins said he planned for his team to be tentative for the first few minutes, hoping to diagnose the Western Boone plan.

"I was trying to read what they were trying to do with their attackers," he said. "My team is still putting everything they can out there every time they step foot on the field."

The Cougars figured out their opponents' plan--work the ball around the outside and take shots from 15-20 yards out--but could do nothing to slow it down.

Junior Allison Voils capitalized first, bouncing a ball toward the net that took an unpredictable hop to sail over NPHS sophomore goalkeeper Claire Sims at 33:46 in the first half.

Sims made 10 saves before the Stars' next goal, a shot from 25 yards out on the right wing by freshman Meg Kinslow. Sims finished with 22 saves in the game.

"(Sims) is one that is going to sacrifice it all to stop the ball when it comes down to it," Gaskins said. "She plays phenomenal when she steps out on the field. She leaves it out there when she has to leave it out there."

North Putnam had only a few offensive rushes in the first half, leading to just one shot, but Gaskins adjusted his formations at the half, shifted players around and got the team more aggressive.

The Cougars had six shots against Western Boone senior keeper Kaylee Collins in the second half, compared to 11 shots from the Stars.

"We started putting stuff together in the end," Gaskins said.

NPHS finished the season 8-9, a successful year for the growing program.

The youthful team got major contributions from its underclassmen this year, but it relied on seniors Rebecca Booth, Autumn Wolf, Anna Sims and Haven Trent for leadership.

"My seniors mean so much to me," Gaskins said. "This year will be one of the hardest to see them go. These girls, they play with their heart and they put it all out there every time they go. They're will to sacrifice.

"If they have to break an ankle to stop a ball, they're going to break that ankle and stop that ball. ... They just give it all, all the time. They're fearless, they believe hard work pays off and hard work will win a game, so let's sweat when we're on the practice field and come out here, win a game, and have fun."

Western Boone advanced to Thursday's section semifinal, where it will play Tri-West. The Bruins beat Southmont 6-0 in Monday's other game.

IHSAA Girls' Soccer Sectional
At Greencastle High School