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GREENCASTLE BOYS' SOCCER REGIONAL: Tiger Cubs close gap on Pioneers despite 3-0 loss
A year ago, Greencastle went to Providence and was taught a harsh lesson in a 4-1 loss as part of the IHSAA Boys’ Soccer Class 2A South Regional No. 15.
The gap between the teams didn’t change on the scoreboard a year later, the Pioneers leaving Robert L. Harbison Stadium with a 3-0 win and a trip to the Washing Regional final, but the Tiger Cubs were a far better opponent compared to the 2022 meeting.
“Last year, we didn’t really know what we were getting into until we got into it,” Greencastle head coach JD Sims said. “This year, we knew we were going to play a really classy team.
“Looking at the stat board, they were going to be a positive team, so we had a gameplan to try and stop them from scoring. We put it in this week and did a good job with it; in my heart of hearts, we gave them one goal they earned and two on mistakes, which happen.
“We executed our gameplan,” Sims added. “We lacked in attack and in the moments we had on their end, we didn’t take advantage of, but I’m proud of the way the boys played tonight.”
Providence enjoyed the better of possession throughout the night but didn’t have the myriad of chances it had against Greencastle a year ago.
Still, the Pioneers took the lead just before 10 minutes had elapse through a bit of fortune after Tiger Cub goalkeeper Harris Weltz had initially made a stunning save on Zachary Kaelin from a deep throw-in, stretching out up and to his left.
The ball looped up but not over the goal frame, nearly dropping on the goal line itself, where Clay Glessner was able to initially keep the ball from going, only for Quentin Hesse to pop up and bundle the ball in for a 1-0 lead.
Hesse surprisingly miscontrolled a through ball just a few minutes later before putting a cross from Jaxon Revell into the side netting.
A pair of fouls gave Micah Foss a chance to take a shot at goal midway through the half, though his offering went over the bar.
A second free kick from Sam White a few minutes later nearly caused problems when Providence goalkeeper William Stengel didn’t catch the ball cleanly, though the Pioneer defense was quick to mop up the mistake.
As halftime approached, the visitors pushed for a second goal and Hesse delivered it to them three minutes from the break.
The Providence forward received a pass around 30 yards from goal and, finding no one to move the ball on to, opted instead for a crushing drive that Weltz was left no chance to deal with.
Greencastle came out quickly in the second half with Foss crossing from the right and Jalen Hardman heading wide of goal after two minutes.
Three minutes later, Providence sealed the win with help from the Tiger Cub defense.
A Nathaniel Coker corner was headed back toward goal by White, looping over everyone on the pitch before hitting the inside of the lefthand post and creeping over the line, much to the joy of the visitors and dismay of the hosts, one of only a handful of errors White and Glessner had in the heart of defense all night.
“Sam was exceptional all year and so was Clay,” Sims said about his senior defensive partnership. “We moved Sam in from outside last year and it paid out dividends.
“Jayce (Spidel) also played out of his skin against Hesse tonight; (Providence) moves Hesse away from him to give him more space. For a sophomore, that’s exceptional. Logan (Allen) filled in for an injured Dylan Olson and he played an exceptional game for a freshman.”
Providence continued to control most of the play as Hesse missed out on a hat trick when a quick free kick routine was slammed into the corner of post and bar midway through the half.
Greencastle found more and more space inside the Pioneer half as play went on, Mylin Tucker forcing a save from Stengel and later putting in a free kick that Jackson Rodgers flashed wide, but a goal was not forthcoming as the visitors advanced on in the state tournament.
The Tiger Cubs finished the season 14-4-1 and with a much younger squad than a season ago, Sims said things looked very promising for seasons to come.
“All of our freshmen and sophomores showed a lot of guts tonight,” Sims said. “We can see our inexperience at times but we can also really see what’s to come and how encouraging that is for the future.
“We hold up with a lot of teams that we necessarily shouldn’t have with how young we are in certain areas, so I’m super pleased with all the kids for the most part.”