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Tiger Cubs win boys' soccer sectional, have eyes on bigger prize
SULLIVAN — No. 6-ranked Greencastle was a prohibitive favorite going into the Class 2A Sullivan boys’ soccer sectional, having only lost one match all season (to Terre Haute North) and having won the Western Indiana Conference crown.
Greencastle dominated the Sullivan sectional, which consisted of six teams from the WIC, recording shutout victories in the first two rounds and then defeating West Vigo 7-1 on Saturday in the championship.
The Tiger Cubs advance to Saturday’s Heritage Hills regional, where they will meet Silver Creek in the semifinal round. No. 1-ranked Evansville Memorial, making its 14th straight regional appearance, looms in the other bracket.
Tiger Cub coach J.D. Sims was not thrilled that his team recorded one goal in the first 20 minutes of the match, and admitted that being motivated could have been a challenge for his players.
“It wasn’t the prettiest,” Sims said of the first 20 minutes, in which a Simon Foss goal at the 32:09 mark was his team’s only score. “The last half of the first half was much better, and we moved the ball some more. It is hard to get up to play teams you have beaten. Against Northview, that wasn’t the best soccer we’ve played, and I think some of the kids just assume you’re going to automatically do that again.”
The Tiger Cubs broke the match open with three goals in that last half of the first half, with Ben Wilkerson scoring at the 19:11 mark and Jakob Foss holding up his end of the brotherly duo by finding the net at 3:58 and again at :46.7 for a 4-0 lead.
Wilkerson added another goal just 2:49 into the second half to put his team ahead 5-0, before West Vigo’s Tyler Joy broke Greencastle goalie Brody Watson’s scoreless sectional streak with a goal at the 30-:50 mark.
Hector Lezama and Jacob Baker added goals for Greencastle in the final eight minutes, as the Tiger Cubs improved their record to 15-1-2.
The Tiger Cubs were able to accumulate seven goals with none coming from leading scorer Evan Crowe, which Sims said shows their depth.
“It’s funny, because Evan has scored so many goals but there are so many other players on our team who can also score,” Sims said. “We have a lot of guys who are good at making assists, and it’s good to spread it around.”
Sims and his team know the competition level will obviously increase as they make their way through the levels of the tourney.
“It’s going to be really tough competition this weekend,” he said. “That’s the best part about it...... we are excited that we get to play teams of the caliber that will be there.”
Senior Leo Weeks agreed with his coach that the mental aspect may have hurt his team early in the match.
“I thought I played all right,” Weeks said. “It was tough to get up a little bit, but we knew it was sectionals and that gives us some added energy.
“It was a great experience, and we really put together a good performance,” Weeks added. “We’re looking forward to the regional, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Senior Kevin Polster didn’t think the mental aspect was a big issue for his team.
“It feels great to win,” he said. “This is only the second time in my high school career to get the W, so that feels great. I thought we played really well. I think the momentum of having beaten them before made us confident.
“Possession in the first half was a little lackluster, but we picked it up in the second half,” Polster added. “It was a fun game for everyone, and we’re ready for regionals.”