Columbus North’s Bryan Rodriguez, left, battles Franklin’s Cole Hufford, right, for the ball in the sectional semifinals at Columbus North, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.
Paige Grider | For The Republic
Franklin made a late charge Wednesday night, but couldn’t quite overcome Class 3A No. 10 Columbus North in the semifinals of the North Sectional.
The Grizzly Cubs got a goal from Riley Flora in the 69th minute, but couldn’t get the equalizer, and North held on for a 2-1 victory.
“I thought the second half, we played really hard,” Franklin coach Tony Harris said. “The first half, we played hard. We just got out of what we were trying to get done. The second half, we battled, we fought, we played a little bit more the way we wanted to play. That’s a heck of a soccer team, and we got back in it. We felt like a call or two go our way, we’re right there.”
The Bull Dogs (11-3-3) move on to the sectional final at 2 p.m. Saturday, where they will face Roncalli. The Royals edged Franklin Central 3-2 in Wednesday’s first semifinal.
North got on the board in the 26th minute when Christian Cardoso scored off an assist from Obed Olivo. The Bull Dogs made it 2-0 just before halftime on a goal by Misaki Takemoto off an assist from Bryan Rodriguez.
Franklin’s only shot in the first half came when North defender Konnor Gribbins cleared a ball off the goal line.
Following Flora’s goal in the 69th minute, the Grizzly Cubs’ Jace Patterson put a shot that would have tied it just wide right in the 72nd minute.
“Credit to Franklin,” North coach Andy Glover said. “They came heavy in the second half, and we were a little out of sync. The boys defended well, but we certainly want to be able to attack a little better. We did get moments on the counter attack and almost made it three (goals) there. Those are circumstances that we kind of prepare for, and I felt good with the way the boys handled the situation.”
The Bull Dogs outshot the Grizzly Cubs 14-4, putting five shots on goal to two for Franklin (13-3-1). Besides the Gribbins save, goalkeeper Juan Jose Salcedo Calderon stopped the only other shot on goal by the Grizzly Cubs.
“The first half, as far as the attack goes, was a little bit better than the second, but I thought the defending the second half was a little bit better,” Golver said.
North now turns its attention to Roncalli (7-7-2). The teams did not meet during the regular season.
“They’re a good team,” Glover said. “They’re well prepared. I have a lot of respect for their coach and their program. It should be a good competition.”
