Avery Baker
For the second time in three days Monday night, the Columbus North girls soccer team found itself staring at 1-0 halftime deficit.
And for the second time in as many games, the Class 3A No. 19 Bull Dogs were able to come through in the second half to rally for a victory. This time, it was a 2-1 Conference Indiana triumph against Bloomington North.
“During halftime, we just defined the problem, we talked to each other, we listened to each other and tried to make sense as well as we can,” said junior Avery Baker, who was the catalyst that set up both Columbus North goals. “We really focused on pressing and trying to pin them in the second half, and that’s really what we did. I hate playing down, but once you get that one goal, it’s just so fun.”
The Cougars (5-4-1, 0-2-1) took the lead with a goal in the 14th minute. It was their only shot of the half and their only shot on goal the entire game.
Brooklyn Pendleton
The Bull Dogs (9-1-1, 2-0) finally cracked Bloomington North’s packed-in defense and tied it in the 56th minute. Baker lofted a corner kick onto the box that bounced off the head of Allison Kolhouse and at the feet of senior Brooklyn Pendleton, who put it in the net.
“I think it really comes down to our good play, especially corner kicks, just finding the ball at people’s feet and touching it back,” Pendleton said. “This time, I was able to turn and just hit it. We were all really focused on getting the goal.”
Grace Bethuram
The game-winner came in the 74th minute when Baker played a through ball to sophomore Grace Bethuram. Bethuram had her initial shot saved by the Cougar keeper, who came out to the top of the box, but Bethuram was able to snag the rebound and put it in the open net.
“We knew we could come back at halftime,” Bethuram said. “We pep-talked ourselves during halftime. We talked about what we needed to work on, and we knew if we worked together, and we worked on staying composed, especially in the attacking third, then we could finish that second goal and win.”
Columbus North had rallied for a 3-1 win against Greenfield-Central Saturday. All three of its goals in that game came off second-half corner kicks.
“That was one of our big strengths last year, and then we lost Rachel Merritt (to graduation), so I kind of had to step up, learn how to take them, learn how to best hit them and it’s been a really great strength,” Baker said.
“Avery is stepping up, serving balls in on corners for us,” Columbus North coach David Young added. “The assist that she had late to Grace, we had kind of moved some players around, put Grace at the ‘9’ specifically for that, and Avery found her. It was a great ball and a great finish.”
The Bull Dogs outshot Bloomington North 14-9 Monday, putting nine shots on goal to the one for the Cougars. Gabby Revell played the first half in goal, and Danika Hoehn played the second half in goal for Columbus North.
“I love this time of year having games like this where girls can fight through adversity,” Young said. “It’s tough playing against a team in a 4-5-1, kind of setting in a little bit, especially when we go down 1-0. It’s tough to score on a team that has nine or 10 in the back. B-North is a good team, and I’m proud of our girls and their fight tonight.”
