FLOYDS KNOBS — Saturday’s Class 3A Floyd Central Sectional final was all about the opportunities.
For Columbus East, it was about those converted. For Floyd Central, it was about those missed.
The fifth-ranked Olympians netted a goal in each half en route to a 2-0 triumph over the host Highlanders for their third sectional title in five years.
“I think this establishes us as one of the top programs in southern Indiana,” East coach Brad Barber said.
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The Olympians (15-0-3) will face Bloomington South at noon Saturday in the Seymour Regional semifinals. The final is at 7 p.m. Saturday.
“Their team is a fantastic team, … they had a lot of hunger. They had a lot of will to win this game,” Floyd Central coach Scott Menne said of the Olympians.
East (15-0-3) beat the Highlanders (7-9-2) 4-1 in the season-opener on Aug. 19. The rematch was decidedly closer.
Floyd Central, which had won sectional titles five of the previous six years, controlled possession early and had its best chance for a goal in the 11th minute, when Pablo Flores was fouled in the box. However, Flores’ subsequent penalty kick was blocked by Olympians goalkeeper Zach Roberts.
“I don’t know if he slipped, but he shot down the middle, which is not usually where he goes,” Menne said of Flores’ shot.
Back-and-forth play continued for the next 15 minutes before East midfielder Jorge Nieto took a pass from Kevin Sanchez and beat Floyd keeper Liam Fitzgerald with a left-footed blast from just outside the box in the 27th minute.
The Olympians led 1-0 at halftime.
“The first half, we weren’t playing our brand of soccer,” Nieto said. “They were all over us the first half. After that first goal, the momentum shifted toward us, and we started playing together.”
The score remained 1-0 until the 51st minute, when East’s Chris Quisenberry took a pass from Logan Cline, beat a pair of defenders, then Fitzgerald, on a breakaway.
Eight minutes after Quisenberry’s goal, Floyd Central midfielder Xander Ochsner received his second yellow card of the match, resulting in his ejection. The Highlanders played a man down the remainder of the match.
East outshot Floyd Central 16-7. The Olympians put eight shots on goal to three for the Highlanders.
“It was a team effort,” Barber said. “All three games, we came out and did what we had to do to win a sectional championship. Playing our brand of soccer and having passion for the game brings us together, and that’s what allows us to win against good teams.”
Roberts finished with five saves in goal, including the one on the penalty kick. He tied the school single-season shutout record with 10 and extended his career shutout record to 30.
“It has to start with our three seniors, Eric Stiles, Jorge Nieto and Zach Roberts,” Barber said. “They came up big today. Zach had a PK save early in the first half, and Eric and Jorge were our workhorses.”
