Columbus North’s Allison Kolhouse kicks the ball during Saturday’s sectional final against Center Grove at Greenwood.
Chris Williams | For The Republic
GREENWOOD — When Columbus North opened its girls soccer season in August, it fell to defending Class 3A state runner-up Center Grove by a 4-0 score.
Saturday night, when the teams met again in the Greenwood Sectional final, the match was much closer. After a scoreless first half, the 3A No. 6 Trojans used three second-half goals to post a 3-1 victory.
“I loved the fight from the girls,” North coach David Young said. “We saw exactly what we were thinking we’d see, and the girls played the game plan to perfection. Zeroes at halftime, then they got one early in the second half, and we kind of had to open up some things if we were going to try to get one.”
Columbus North’s Grace Merritt, left, battles for the ball during Saturday’s sectional final against Center Grove at Greenwood.
Chris Williams | For The Republic
The Bull Dogs (13-3-3) put three shots on goal in the first half to two for the Trojans (17-2). But Center Grove struck in the 45th minute on a goal by Mia Marlin.
Marlin added her second goal in the 55th minute. The Trojans made it 3-0 with a goal from Beatriz Gubert in the 72nd minute.
North was awarded a penalty kick in the 76th minute, and senior Allison Kolhouse stepped up and converted to put the Bull Dogs on the board. But Center Grove was able to hang on for the win.
“I feel like we improved, as well, in different areas, but I thought they looked like they were battle tested a little bit more, which makes sense over the course of the year,” Center Grove coach Myron Vaughn said. “They presented problems for us in the first half with some of the intangible things like effort, tackles and just will. It made us kind of take pause and do things a little differently in the first half. But I think once we kind of gathered what was happening and how the game was going, I think the girls did a really good job of adjusting and making sure we didn’t let it change us emotionally, and I think that led to us being composed in the final half.”
Columbus North’s Emerson Chambers (22) kicks the ball during Saturday’s sectional final against Center Grove at Greenwood.
Chris Williams | For The Republic
The Trojans finished with a 22-6 shot advantage, putting 11 shots on goal to five for North. Danika Hoehn recorded eight saves for the Bull Dogs, who had advanced to the final with 2-1 wins against Greenwood and Whiteland.
“I think we did make big improvements, especially our performance during sectional,” said junior midfielder Evelin Lopez, who had a goal and an assist in each of the first two sectional games. “We played really good, we played hard and we played for each other. I’m proud of the way we played today.”
This was the second year in a row that Center Grove ended a big season for North.
“It was fantastic,” Young said. “Thirteen wins, three losses, with two losses to Center Grove. This senior class, with 12-plus wins with three losses both seasons, I can’t ask for much better seniors than I have. It’s going to be tough losing them, for sure.”
