Opening their Hoosier Hills Conference season at home Tuesday night, Columbus East ran into a physical Seymour team in the “O Cup.”
After the dust had settled with six total yellow cards handed out, the Olympians were unable to capitalize on a strong offensive second half and fell to the Owls 1-0.
Both teams battled for possession throughout a physical first half, with East (0-4, 0-1) holding control during the opening 20 minutes taking four shots on goal. Over the final 20 minutes, Seymour (3-1, 1-0) took control culminating in the first goal of the match in the 24th minute.
The Owls sent a cross from the left side of the field into the box for senior Daniel Hartman. While in stride to take the shot, an Olympian defender sent Hartman to the ground, resulting in a penalty kick. Hartman capitalized putting the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead.
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East came out the aggressor in the second half though, pushing the ball and finding their way into the Owls box. Outshooting Seymour 4-3 in the half, the Olympians were unable to put any of their shots in the net. Midway through the half, East was given three corner kicks and a goal kick within a five-minute span, but Seymour cleaned up each of their attempts.
“I thought in the second half, we improved in all facets of the game,” East coach Brad Barber said. “I think that’s a big part of what we need to focus on going forward through this gauntlet of the first seven games.”
Goalkeeper Zach Roberts played a strong game for East, saving seven of the eight shots sent his way.
“I felt like the ball is right there to be put into the back of the net and its just not falling for us,” Barber said. “But as I told the players, I haven’t had a group of players work harder and do the right thing and just not see the ball hit the back of the net. But I believe once it does hit the back of the net we, will see many to follow.”
