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North Putnam stays unbeaten in WIC play with regulation win over Greencastle
BAINBRIDGE — BAINBRIDGE — Given how their meeting in 2023 ended, one decided on penalties and then a lengthy conference among coaches, officials and administrators in the middle of a broiling Monday evening, North Putnam and Greencastle approached Tuesday night’s critical WIC boys’ soccer match in the most respectful manner of all.
With turnover high on both squads, neither side went in with the venom several previous matchups had seen, instead playing to their own strengths, looking to keep the ball on the ground and play their way through the opposition.
After 40 minutes of minimal offensive threat as a result, it took 60 seconds for the course of the match to be altered as Gage Martellaro scored on a rebound and though the Tiger Cubs nearly replied instantly, the Cougar defense held firm for the remaining 39 minutes for a 1-0 win, the first regulation win for North Putnam over Greencastle, having secured its first win over its county rival in the history of the series in 2023.
The bulk of the first half action took place in the middle third of the pitch as both teams, using similar lineups and tactics, often ran headlong into the strength of the other’s defense, leading to few shots and even fewer on target.
Greencastle’s Sam Hanlon had the first shot of note, one that fizzed across the North Putnam goalmouth and out of play two minutes after the first whistle.
Play bogged down in the middle as both teams tried to get a foothold in the match, though the Tiger Cubs’ athletic ability helped secure several loose balls and allowed the visitors to play more in the Cougars’ half.
As the halfway point of the opening 40 minutes came and went, Greencastle started to pry open the hosts’ defense as Travis Overshiner had a shot saved by Michael Ali before a quick combo from a short goal kick saw Fischer Barcus shoot wide of goal.
Barcus nearly sent Overshiner through with 10 minutes until halftime but the latter strayed offside with a one-on-one look on goal on the horizon.
There were a couple of nervy moments late for Tiger Cub goalkeeper Conor Petrie with a free kick dropping in front of him while Brayden Chew fired in a late shot that the sophomore struggled to hold on to just in front of goal.
The best laid plans of both teams for the second half were quickly dispersed as a turnover in the first minute led to the only goal of the match.
Isaac Polley stole the ball off a defender before rounding the last defender, closing quickly and getting a shot away in the one-on-one situation.
Petrie was able to save the initial effort but Martellaro was first on the scene and poked home the rebound to give the hosts a 1-0 lead just 59 seconds into the second half.
Greencastle’s response was almost immediate as, from the restart, the ball was sent back before being cleared over the North Putnam defense and Barcus was there to head it past Ali but the wrong side of the post.
Barcus and Jayce Spidel had shots saved by Ali while a Milyn Tucker corner somehow evaded both Barcus and Madden Slagle.
The Cougars weathered the next 10 minutes relatively comfortably before Barcus finally got a shot on target that Ali dealt with while the hosts put together a quick attack soon after though Brayden Neureiter ballooned the shot over Petrie’s goal.
Greencastle’s patient passing game soon turned into a more direct approach that saw Anthony Peters and Tucker more central and the latter provided the best chance to level the match.
Forcing a corner, Tucker’s first attempt was cleared but a second corner fell to Overshiner in front of goal, only to scoop his shot over the top with 10 minutes to play.
Barcus appeared to have one final run on goal but was deemed offside three minutes from time and a last-second free kick hung in the air too long for any visitor to have an attempt on goal as North Putnam moved to 4-0 in WIC play while Greencastle dropped to 1-2.