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BETHESDA CHRISTIAN BOYS' SOCCER SECTIONAL: Cougar rally falls short as Patriots reach final
BROWNSBURG – Despite a strong start to the second half, North Putnam was unable to dig its way out of a three-goal deficit against Bethesda Christian, falling 5-2 in the second game of IHSAA Boys’ Soccer Class A Sectional No. 41.
“We made some halftime adjustments, talked about coming out fast in the second half and making a game of it if we could,” North Putnam head coach Kyle Morgan said. “We did that.
“The first 10 minutes of the second half, we were the better team. It’s about how do you not dig yourself into a hole in the first half.
The Patriots opened the scoring when Jamison Chapman headed home from a corner to take a 1-0 lead.
Chapman and Owen Marti proved a difficult defensive duo to break down in the first half as North Putnam was unable to make headway with the center backs constantly breaking up any attack the Cougars could muster.
Play was back-and-forth until Christopher Wilson struck twice in 90 seconds, the first from a cross down the right flank and the second off a through ball that gave the Patriots a 3-0 lead at halftime.
“(Wilson) is a very talented player,” Morgan noted. “We tried to take him out of the game the best we could and he still scored two goals, so we were in a hole.”
North Putnam roared into life to start the second half, however, as Brayden Neureiter scored 90 seconds after the restart.
Six minutes later, Nolan Hackleman drove through the Bethesda Christian defense and smashed a shot off the bar but hit off the back of the goalkeeper and rolled in, reducing the deficit to 3-2.
Hackleman hit another shot on target after the restart that was caught as the Cougars looked to level the match.
The hosts would get the next goal, however, when a throw-in was allowed to bounce in front of the visiting defenders and Sam Mlagan was able to control and slot the ball home.
“We made our adjustments in the second half and if the third goal in the second half goes our way, it’s a game,” Morgan said. “The guys still played well.”
Bethesda Christian added a fifth goal through Carter Heathco inside the final 10 minutes to settle the match, advancing to the sectional final to face Covenant Christian, which defeated Providence Cristo Rey in the other semifinal 3-0.
North Putnam finishes the season 11-5 and with only two players graduating, Morgan said the team would now need to figure out how to be the squad with the advantage in situations like sectional play rather than responding after being at a disadvantage.
“We ride this junior class a lot because they were our backbone,” Morgan said. “Our seven, with the two seniors, was the spine of this team, the leaders of this team and the guys who had the skill to carry us.
“Now, it’s five seniors and what do we do next year to not be in this situation again? What changes do we make during sectional week and before that to not be 11-5? To be 12-4, 13-3? Those are the question we have to answer ahead of next season.”