Hat trick powers Bull Dogs

SEYMOUR — Columbus North sophomore Alex McGill netted a hat trick in a 3-0 win Seymour on Tuesday, but it’s not the last time the two teams will meet in 2016.

On Monday, the Bull Dogs will return to the new turf complex in the first round of the sectional.

North led the Owls just 1-0 at the half, and until the final 3½ minutes of play before the score opened up.

“It took a while (to score) and that’s a testament to Seymour’s improvement over the past three years,” North coach Andy Glover said.

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“They’re a good team and fight hard. Our team proved to be disciplined over time through possession and tactics. It was a good performance from our team and a good piece of competition. We’re pleased but not content. To play a team twice within a week is difficult.”

Both teams battled for possession in the opening 6 minutes until a corner kick by the Bull Dogs (9-4-2) was cleared by Seymour defender Griffin Sciarra after a deflection in front of the goal.

North rifled three shots at Owls keeper Brayan Torres in the span of 90 seconds in the 15th and 16th minutes.

However, Torres collected the chances with a pair of diving saves.

Seymour’s Daniel Hartman hit a free kick from 30 yards on the right side of the pitch which found the head of senior Brantley Adams in the 24th minute, but the shot just went wide of the far post.

Torres continued to thwart the Bull Dogs’ defense. He laid out for another save in the 33rd minute off a shot from McGill.

The Owls (11-3) missed a golden opportunity in the 36th minute when Adams sailed a penalty kick over the top of the crossbar. North then shifted the momentum.

The Bull Dogs took the lead when McGill hit a cross from Ian Hussey into the back of the net from inside 12 yards in the 38th minute.

North’s defense held firm in the second half. The Bull Dogs had back-to-back corner kicks in the 56th minute, but couldn’t convert on a shot by Rico Hollenkamp that bounced off the post. The other shot was cleared by the Owls’ defense.

A deflection by Seymour’s Mason Pottschmidt was corralled by North keeper Mark Salle-Tabor after a long cross from Brayan Morales in the 63rd minute. It was the first shot on goal for the Owls in the second half.

McGill added another goal off an assist by Kaemon Jiles in the 77th minute and secured the hat trick when he flicked one over Torres off an assist from Cameron Phillips from just inside the 18 just 21 seconds later.

“Defensively, when we’re not on the ball, I think our shape is good,” Glover said.

“I was particularly pleased with our two center backs. They’re rocks. We put a lot of pressure on them by releasing our wingbacks forward. It’s a lot of pressure to absorb.”

The Bull Dogs outshot Seymour 12-4. Salle-Tabor finished with one save.