Silver Creek eliminates Greencastle in OT, 2-1
LINCOLN CITY — Greencastle and Silver Creek battled to a 1-1 tie through 80 minutes of action on Saturday in the Heritage Hills Class 2A boys’ soccer regional.
The teams then played a pair of seven-minute overtimes, and Silver Creek was able to come up with a goal just 1:36 into the first extra period and held on for a 2-1 win.
Silver Creek was defeated 5-0 by No. 1-ranked Evansville Memorial, the defending state champions, in the regional finals.
Greencastle got on the scoreboard first with 35:10 to play in the first half on a goal by sophomore Jakob Foss.
Silver Creek senior Keaton Goss then recorded the first of his two goals with 11:43 left in the first half to tie the score.
The next 51:43 would be a scoreless duel, with both teams getting numerous shots on goal but neither being able to find the mark again during regulation.
Greencastle’s Ben Parsons had a great shot attempt late in the first overtime, but the try was deflected by standout Silver Creek goalie Jack Gleason.
Gleason had also stopped a penalty kick attempt by Foss with 6:19 left in regulation that could have put the Cubs ahead.
“That was a great shot,” Greencastle coach J.D. Sims said. “I don’t think Jakob could have shot a better PK.
“What it came down to was their goalie,” Sims added. “He was spectacular and he stopped three or four good shots. If he’s not there, it’s a different game.”
Sims thought the teams were evenly matched.
“We forced a lot of balls,” he said. “Their team was solid. I think this is probably the most similar team we played all year. They moved the ball out wide and they had a lot of speed.
“Then it came down to having tired legs and bodies.”
Sims was proud of his team’s effort all season long, finishing with a record of 16-2-2 and winning both the Sullivan Sectional and Western Indiana Conference championships.
“I’m ecstatic with the season,” he said. “We set out this year to win the sectional and win the conference. Almost being undefeated was the cherry on top, and we just missed it by an inch [losing the regular-season finale to Terre Haute North].”
Sims enjoyed the opportunity to play a different team in the Dragons, after having won the sectional by playing three earlier opponents.
“I was glad we were able to come out and play someone new,” he said. “It’s good for the boys. I think they deserve every bit of accolades they’ve gotten this year. I’m really proud of them.”
The Tiger Cubs will lose several key players from its eight-player senior class of Kevin Polster, Jack Romer, Simon Foss, Nate Trissel, Evan Crowe, Brett Sosebee, Leo Weeks and Brody Watson — but Sims notes that several returnees will be looking to step up and fill in the holes left by graduation.
“Every year I say we’re losing these key players,” Sims said. “But the next year a kid steps up and takes their spot.
“We have a lot of young talent, and I’m excited for the future,” he added. “It should be a positive year.”