There was a 90-minute weather delay with three minutes left to go in the first half, and Columbus North definitely needed the break.
A slow start in the first 37 minutes of the game led to two early goals from Southport. Despite a second-half goal to cut the lead in half, the hole was too big to overcome as the Bull Dogs dropped a season-opening 2-1 loss Conference Indiana boys soccer loss Saturday at Richard Wigh Soccer Complex.
“After two goals in the first few minutes, for the last 72 minutes, it was 1-0, us,” North assistant coach Chris Morlock said.
The Bull Dogs conceded a couple early goals. In the seventh minute, Rodrigo Romero’s shot attempt took a deflection, and the ball landed right at the feet of Albert Thang, and he took advantage to put the ball in the net for a 1-0 lead.
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One minute later, the Cardinals added an insurance goal when Dawt Thang converted unassisted to give Southport a quick 2-0 lead.
The score remained that way until a storm rolled through to delay the game by around 90 minutes.
Once play resumed, the final three minutes of the first half remained scoreless. Play resumed immediately when both teams agreed to go straight to the second half.
North found its momentum in the first few minutes. In the 45th minute, a penalty kick was awarded to the Bull Dogs after a Southport foul in the box. Graham Keele took the penalty shot that found the net to cut it to 2-1. Unfortunately, despite a couple of chances late, North couldn’t find the net again.
“It was a matter that we really needed to adapt to (Southport’s) pace, and then we did,” North coach Tom Pollert said.
The Bull Dogs took 15 shots, with eight of them on goal. Colvin Iorio finished with 11 saves.
North has time to recover for its next couple matches. The Bull Dogs have a home Conference Indiana matchup with Bloomington North on Thursday, then face Columbus East in the annual crosstown rivalry game Aug. 29.
“They’re mad because they know how they can play,” North assistant coach David Green said. “If it was the other way around, and if we played great before the rain delay, and then they did terrible, it would have been a different story.”
