The way David Young sees it, Wednesday night’s game against East Central was exactly the type of competitive game his Columbus North girls soccer team needed.
The Bull Dogs, ranked No. 14 in Class 3A had run off 12 consecutive wins since falling to Center Grove in its season opener. That streak came to an end with a 1-0 home loss to East Central.
"You never like to lose, but I told the team there are moments in the season that a loss isn’t a bad thing," Young said. "Center Grove Day 1 was probably a blessing in disguise for us."
Although East Central (10-2-2) isn’t ranked, it is perfect against Indiana teams. All of the Trojans’ losses and ties have come against Ohio and Kentucky schools from the Greater Cincinnati area.
"They’re a very good team," Young said. "They’ve played some really good opponents."
The Bull Dogs (12-2) had perhaps their best chance early against the Trojans. In the opening minute, KJ Ely took a lead pass from Jenna Lang, but slid a shot just left of the net.
North had another good chance in the 29th minute, but East Central goalkeeper Mary Brewington smothered a shot by Lauren Barker in front of the net.
"Obviously, whenever you have chances early, and you don’t capitalize, it sometimes can set the tone for the game," Young said. "I don’t know that it did in this game. I think it went back and forth."
The Bull Dogs almost scored early in the second half when Lang’s shot went through the hands of the Trojans’ second keeper, Ashlyn Blankenship. But Blankenship recovered just in time to stop the ball on the goal line in the 43rd minute.
East Central finally got on the board in the 63rd minute when Caitlyn Dick slid a ball past Bull Dog keeper Kaylyn Bates.
That was the only ball Bates didn’t stop all night. She recorded 10 saves, including one on a tip over the crossbar on a free kick in the 21st minute and another on a breakaway in the 30th minute.
"Kaylyn had a really good night," Young said. "She’s stepped up here the last two or three games. She was out with an injury for four or five games, and right now, she’s playing like she did before she got injured. She did keep us in this game."
North’s final chance came in the 79th minute when it was awarded a free kick from 25 yards. But Blankenship stopped Caroline Hollenkamp’s shot to preserve the shutout.
The Trojans outshot the Bull Dogs 17-16. Both teams put 11 shots on goal.
North now travels to Castle on Saturday for a game that was recently added to the schedule. Center midfielders Lauryn Whitley and Hollenkamp will be out because of prior commitments. The status of forward KJ Ely also is uncertain after she left Wednesday’s game in the first half with a wrist injury.
