Columbus North’s Flynn Keele and Columbus East’s Boston Ely battle for the ball during a match at BCSC Soccer Complex in Columbus.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
The Class 3A No. 12 Columbus North boys soccer team had plenty of opportunities to get a goal Thursday night against crosstown rival Columbus East.
The Bull Dogs controlled its crosstown match with the Olympians from the opening kick, but the prevent defense by the Olympians held the game with very little to show on the scoreboard, thus coming away with a 0-0 draw at the BCSC Soccer Complex.
The best chance for a goal for East (0-3-2) came in the 58th minute when a free kick by the Olympians was saved by North goalkeeper Max Grewe for its only shot on goal for the match.
The Bull Dogs (5-0-1) had several chances late in the match to break the draw. In the 63rd minute, Christian Cardoso dribbled the ball down the field, and his shot was just in the grasp of East goalkeeper Pete Coriden. A minute later, Nathan Imlay kicked the ball just outside the box and his shot landed right at Coriden.
The final chance for North was in the 75th minute when Obed Oliva had the ball in the box and took the shot right at Coriden. The rebound was up for grabs, but an Olympian defender was there to kick the ball out of harm’s way to preseve the draw.
The 10-year anniversary of North’s state championship team was honored at halftime of the game. The Bull Dogs won the Class 2A boys soccer state championship in 2012, before the IHSAA decided to expand the tournament to three classes in 2017.
Next up for East is a Hoosier Hills Conference home matchup against Seymour on Tuesday night. North’s next match will be a huge battle of top-15 teams when they host 3A No. 14 Center Grove on Tuesday night.
