Southmont mounts comeback over GHS soccer

Tiger Cubs' Seth Nichols tries to steady the ball before taking a shot at the Southmont goal in the second half on Tuesday. Greencastle fell 3-2 after a 2-0 lead. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

After a strong performance in the first half Tuesday, the Greencastle boys' soccer team gave up three scores in the second half and fell to Southmont 3-2 for its second loss of the season.

"The first half we passed really well," GHS coach J.D. Simms said. "We used our wings and got the ball out wide. Everybody was on key together. Then the second half, we got up two goals and got cocky basically. We stopped passing and started forcing the ball. Our defense was flat the whole time and let them kick the ball over the top. Morally we got crushed by the end of the game."

Greencastle did a good job keeping the pressure on Southmont in the early parts of the game. Much of the game was played of the Mountie side of the field before Evan Crowe curled in shot from about 20 yards away, making the score 1-0.

"Possession has been our strongest asset," Simms said. "In this game during the first 20 minutes we passed the ball around. We didn't let them get any touches on the ball. That's what we've been doing well for the entire season. The bigger teams we play we've stepped up physically and held them off."

The second goal came from Justin Hartman, who put one past the goalie amid a host of Southmont defenders.

In the second half, as the storm clouds began to roll in, Southmont jump on the home team early scoring three goals in the first 10 minutes.

"We have this weird complex where we play really hard against the tougher teams and when we play a smaller team like Southmont here we lax in our play some," Simms said. "Confidence is a huge issue. We think we can just come in here and stomp teams and teams answer back and want it more than we do."

GHS (4-2-1) will play at North Putnam (2-5-1) Thursday.

"Sometimes it's good to take a loss like this," Simms said. "It makes us realize we are not invincible. We're not as good as we think we are. A lot of times a game like this will help us realize that we have to improve as a team."

The North Putnam boys played a tough match Tuesday falling 11-0 to Tri-West after a win at Sullivan and a 2-2 tie at Southmont.

1st Half

Crowe 27:02

Hartman 14:15

Saves: Brody Watson 5

Shots on Goal: GHS 8 SMH 4