Rachel Merritt
The Columbus North girls soccer team celebrated senior night before its game against Greenwood Monday night.
The Bull Dogs sent the senior class off on a winning note with a 2-0 victory over the Woodmen at the BCSC Soccer Complex.
“It feels very surreal. I still feel like a sophomore out here playing. It’s weird to think I’m a senior,” said senior co-captain Rachel Merritt. “I love playing with all these girls, and whoever it is on the team, I just enjoy going out there. The emotions are very high. I’m usually nervous for most games, but this one, I was extra nervous tonight because I wanted to play my best and be able to show what I have this year. I’m very excited for the future and this year.”
North (5-1-1) honored 10 seniors Monday night. This is also the sixth straight shutout for the Bull Dogs since a season-opening loss at Class 3A No. 11 Center Grove.
“One of the things we talk about all the time is culture and how important a positive environment is for the group,” North coach David Young said. “It helps on the field in tense moments, it helps at training sessions whenever they are difficult and all 10 of them are fantastic on and off the field with the culture. They build on top of that. It’s gotten better from the first year they were here as freshmen until they were seniors, and they continued to do that. I feel like it’s a culmination of where we’re at now with how many shutouts we’ve had.”
Allison Kolhouse
All of the seniors got to opportunity to start the match, and then many rotations were used throughout the contest. The Bull Dogs broke through in the 10th minute from a corner kick. Merritt sent the ball in the box, and Allison Kolhouse was there to get the touch to place it in the net for the 1-0 lead.
It wasn’t until the second half that North doubled up the score. It was the same tune again in the 45th minute when Merritt delivered the ball in the box, and Kolhouse got the header on it for her second goal of the game.
“We’ve all been practicing very hard on (set pieces). In the past years, we haven’t been able to connect on them,” Merritt said. “Whether it’s Allison or someone else, I know my teammates will always finish the balls that I’m kicking in. I always try to deliver the best ball in the consistent spot over and over.”
