Greencastle, North Putnam set up all-Putnam County final at Southmont Girls' Soccer Sectional

NEW MARKET — A chill, damp evening signaled postseason time for the fall sports.

Both North Putnam and Greencastle rolled to semifinal victories in the Southmont Class A Girls’ Soccer Sectional. The Cougars won 3-0,behind a hat trick from Kassidy Hackleman over South Vermillion and the Tiger Cubs took care of Cascade 4-1.

In the first game, things started slowly for both squads. North Putnam was able to control possession and build the attack. The Cougars would finally break through in the 19th minute as Kassidy Hackleman was able to get possession in the box and find the back of the net to go up 1-0.

The score would remain that way through halftime and well into the second half. The Cougars would create a lot of opportunities, just not be able to connect on the final touch to increase the advantage.

With just under 20 minutes remaining, Hackleman found some space and ripped a low shot off the goal keeper's hands to give the Cougars some breathing room.

North’s defense kept the Wildcats from gaining any solid scoring chances, not allowing a shot on goal. The Cougars kept the pressure on offensively and got the third goal from Hackleman with a little under nine minutes left, breaking free on the left side and placing the ball perfectly in the right hand corner of the goal.

After the game coach Jacob Bender said, “I thought it took us just working into the game confidently. We ended up doing it really well. I am really proud of them all. Across the board, everybody picked it up and played like a united team.”

Team Stats

Cascade 1-4 Greencastle

Game two was a rematch from earlier in the season in which Greencastle defeated Cascade 3-1.

The Cadets, with the benefit of a call, were able to score within two minute of the start of the game. They got a free kick from just outside the box and Anna Burns took it with her left foot, bending it beautifully into the top corner of the goal to take a quick 1-0 lead.

Greencastle tried to counter quickly, pressing up the field. Cascade withstood the pressure, but it seemed that it was only a matter of time until the Cubs got the equalizer.

The goal finally came with 16:08 left in the first half when sophomore Claire Langdoc took a centering pass and placed a shot past the keeper to even up the match.

The Tiger Cubs began applying a lot of forward pressure, limiting Cascade's chance to counter, which paid off in the second half.

Just two minutes in, Aleeyah Johnson, on the left side, was able to place the ball perfectly above the keeper and found its way home for the Cubs’ first lead of the night.

The Cubs kept pressuring and attacking quickly. Johnson would strike again, starting In the center of the field with space, she let fly a high, arching shot from about 30 yards out. It sailed just past the outreached arms of Zoey Wyneken to make it 3-0.

Greencastle would put the game out of reach shortly after that. Passes were quickly strung together and Riley Wainman found Evie Briones, who slammed it straight to the back of the net for a commanding 4-1 lead.

That's where it would finish as Greencastle made it an al-Putnam County final with the win.

“When (Cascade) got that first goal, it kind of woke us up. The girls have worked so hard since June on conditioning and fitness. This is the time we want to be peaking and we were able to play fast,” Greencastle coach Scott Monnett said.

This sets up a great atmosphere Saturday night as the two county rivals face off for the sectional title.

“I love it, with all the conversations about conference changes and all. There is so much that goes into making soccer strong in Putnam County. It’s going to be awesome,” added coach Monnett.

Team Stats