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BOYS' SOCCER REGIONAL: Pioneers show postseason credentials in 4-1 win over Tiger Cubs
CLARKSVILLE – Returning to the regional round for the first time since 2018, No. 15 Greencastle had a tall task in order to reach the regional final in facing No. 13 Providence in the IHSAA Boys’ Soccer Regional Semifinal Wednesday evening.
An early goal glut saw the hosts take a 2-1 lead before a crucial late goal at the end of the first half gave the Pioneers a 3-1 lead that would not be challenged, eventually toppling the Tiger Cubs 4-1.
“We just weren’t used to being on the back foot against the teams we played against this season,” Greencastle head coach JD Sims said. “(Providence) put in a quick goal, we were able to equalize but a few mistakes let in a couple of goals.
“We don’t see a team as organized and having an out and out player in every position like we saw tonight in the (WIC). There are certain positions that weren’t used to being pressed and that got us off our game, not allowing us to string passes together.”
Providence, having moved up from Class A after two successive state finals appearances, showed it had plenty of know-how across the pitch and put it to good use as Greencastle found itself under pressure it had not seen during the 2022 season.
The pressure eventually told as the 10 minute mark approached as Luke Jordan opened the scoring for the hosts.
It only took five minutes for Micah Foss to respond, tying the match at 1-1, only for the Pioneers to answer back two minutes later as Drew Kelly took the lead back after a goalmouth scramble from a corner.
The hosts calmly looked for a third goal while the visitors tried to keep up with the passing and pressing Providence put together.
While the Pioneers threatened on several occasions, it looked as though Greencastle would make it to halftime down just a single goal until a Quentin Hesse shot from distance went through the arm of keeper Harris Weltz and in three minutes from the break.
Providence came out to start the second half looking to put the match away and missed several chances to do so in the first 10 minutes.
The Tiger Cubs had more and more difficulty getting into good attacking positions as the hosts pinned them in, allowing few chances to string passes together with a lead to protect.
Seth Kallem eventually forced a smart save out of Charlie Scott with 20 minutes to play while a good cross from Foss forced Scott to collect with Kallem lurking in the area.
Providence finally got the knockout blow two minutes later after a prolonged period of play in the Greencastle box with one shot only parried by Weltz before Kelly tucked home the rebound.
The Tiger Cubs finish the season 16-1-3 with a WIC title and sectional title to its name.
Sims said the difficulty spike was significant from sectional to regional but also said the underclassmen held out well Wednesday and would have a chance to apply the lessons from the evening to their play.
“I told Providence that hopefully we get to see them next year as it means we will have gotten another sectional title and can rematch them,” Sims said. “All of our freshmen, sophomores and juniors showed a lot of promise, though an experience like this humbles you and teaches you that, in our neck of the woods, we’re a big fish, but come here and it’s a whole different game.
“It will only make them better as long as they learn from their experiences.”