Columbus North’s Sam Brown, center, celebrates scoring a goal with teammates Misaki Takemoto, left, and Adian Espejel during a sectional soccer match between Greenwood and Columbus North at the BCSC Soccer Complex in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Greenwood put an ever-so-slight scare into Class 3A No. 10 Columbus North midway through the first half Tuesday night, but the Bull Dogs recovered in plenty of time to move on in their own sectional.
North scored twice in the final seven minutes of the first half, then added four second half goals to pull away for a 7-1 win against Greenwood in the opening round of the North Sectional.
“We were a little disappointed to concede a goal,” North coach Andy Glover said. “But the guys answered by solving the problem in the second half. Our defending got better in the second half, and when we defend better, our attack improves, as well.”
The Bull Dogs (10-3-3) advance to play Franklin in tonight’s semifinals at around 8 p.m. The Grizzly Cubs were a 1-0 winner against Columbus East in Tuesday’s opener.
North got the scoring started in the ninth minute when Sam Brown put in a pass from Aidan Whitley. But then the Woodmen tied the game in the 23rd minute on a header from Fabian Martin.
Whitley gave the Bull Dogs the lead for good when he scored off a pass from Obed Olivo in the 34th minute. Madux Tovey scored on a header off a pass from Bryan Rodriguez, and North led 3-1 at the half.
In the second half, Christian Cardoso assisted on goals by Misaki Takemoto in the 48th minute and olivo in the 53rd minute. Tovey scored a goal off an assist from Takemoto in the 58th minute and added the final tally in the final minute.
“I’m locking in when it’s game time,” Tovey said. “I’m ready to play. It feels amazing”
North outshot Greenwood (8-7-1) 22-6, putting 14 shots on goal to four for the Woodmen. Juan Jose Salcedo Calderon recorded three saves in the first 66 minutes, and Noah Marsh did not face a shot in the final 14 minutes.
