The Columbus North boys soccer team hoists the trophy after beating Cathedral in a semistate soccer match at Seymour High School in Seymour, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. North defeated Cathedral 2-1 to advance to the state final for the first time since 2012.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
SEYMOUR — Columbus North had the wind in its face for the first half of Saturday’s boys soccer semistate, but the Bull Dogs did not let that become a detriment.
Instead, they turned it into an advantage.
Class 3A No. 4 North used a first-half goal from Thomas De La Cruz and a late tally from Aidan Whitley and held on for a 2-1 victory against Cathedral to return to the state finals for the first time since winning the 2012 title.
North coach Andy Glover noted that playing into the wind helps the Bull Dogs’ style of playing on the ground instead of through the air.
“So it honestly helped us,” Glover said.
The Bull Dogs (19-1-1) will face 3A No. 7 Noblesville at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at IUPUI’s Michael Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium.
The wind actually aided the first goal for North. In the 33rd minute, sophomore Thomas De La Cruz played a ball from the left side into the box that looked like it was headed wide, but the wind held it up, and it bent into the right side of the net.
“It was meant to be a cross, but it bounced, and it hit the back of the net,” De La Cruz said. “I was looking for Raul (Oliveria) back post. It wasn’t there, but it went in.”
De La Cruz dedicated his season to his late sister, Tapanga Eudy, who died in a car crash last year at the age of 21.
“This means a lot,” De La Cruz said. “My sister died recently, and I’ve been playing for her. It’s my biggest inspiration. Before every match, I have this cross that her nana gave me, and I always do the cross sign and pray to God.”
North had a couple chances to build onto its lead, but did not until the 79th minute. Aidan Whitley took a throw-in from De La Cruz and put one past Irish goalkeeper Jett Wallmeier.
“It turned out to be pretty big, but at that moment, it was just another goal,” Whitley said. “I was originally going to try to take it to the corner and (take) time, and then the (defender) was on my right shoulder. I knew if I turned left, I could get to frame. So I turned left, saw the man on me, tried to make a move to get around him and it ended up working.”
“I’m very pleased with Aidan’s resilience and persistence in the front,” Glover added.
Whitley’s goal turned out to be a huge one when Cathedral’s Calvin Kurzawa converted a penalty kick with just 24 seconds remaining after a scrum in front of the net.
The game still wasn’t over, though. The Irish (10-8-5) got it back, and took a shot that was saved by Max Grewe, then put another shot over the crossbar as the final seconds ticked off.
“It feels surreal,” Whitley said “This is one of the most competitive matches we’ve had all season. I’m really proud of the boys and really proud of the coaching staff, and I’m excited for next weekend.”
The shot totals were almost dead even. The Bull Dogs finished with a 14-13 advantage on total shots, and both teams put eight shots on goal.
Oscar Ballinas posted four saves while playing the first half in goal for North. Grewe finished with three saves in the second half. Unfortunately for the Bull Dogs, Ballinas will be unavailable for the state final after receiving a red card for coming off the bench onto the field during the skirmish in the closing seconds.
North also got some big plays from its backline of left back De La Cruz, center backs Konnor Gribbins and Eduardo Ruiz Cordova and right back Oliveria in the absence of starter Leo Iorio, who was out with an ankle injury.
“Cathedral kept dumping balls into us,” Glover said. “They knew where to put us under pressure, and I can’t disagree with their approach one bit. It was working out well for them.”
The Bull Dogs are now one win away from a state title after being eliminated in the sectional the past five years.
“It was bizarre because where we ended last season did not match what we saw in the team’s potential in terms of our ceiling,” Glover said. “All we’ve been looking for is our best performance. If we put together our best performance, we’re very difficult to beat.”
