Columbus North’s Jonah Sipes fires a shot toward the goal past Bloomington South’s Rice Laughlin during a match Tuesday at BCSC Soccer Complex.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
Columbus North had more shots, more corner kicks and more opportunities during Tuesday’s boys soccer showdown with Class 3A No. 7 Bloomington South.
The Panthers had the ball bounce their way with a goal late to break the scoreless draw to give the Bull Dogs the 1-0 Conference Indiana loss on North’s senior night.
A draw with Bloomington South would have been just as good for North because it would have controlled its own destiny with the Panthers already having tied with Southport. But with Tuesday’s win, Bloomington South is the outright champion, with the other four teams already having at least one conference loss.
“It’s a game of moments, and they capitalized on theirs. We had had more moments than they did, but we just didn’t score the goals,” North coach Andy Glover said. “That’s OK. Bloomington South is a good team. Nobody in our camp likes to lose, but they’re a good team. We can integrate the result and move forward.”
The Bull Dogs (4-4-4, 2-1) had their best chances in the 74th minute when Luccas Peda booted a laser shot right at Panther goalkeeper Nate Summerlot, and another in the 76th minute when a shot went just outside the goal box.
Bloomington South (10-1-3, 4-0-1) got the game-winner in the 75th minute when they were awarded a free kick. On the kick, Max Serafin-Odle hit a perfect ball right to the center of the goal box, and Andrew Wiley jumped and got a header on it and fell into the back of the net to break the scoreless draw.
North outshot the Panthers 17-9, putting six shots on goal to five for Bloomington South. Nicolas De Linan Palacios recorded four saves in goal.
Glover appreciated his seniors, who were the final pieces from the 2022 state runner-up team.
“They’re great kids,” said Glover. “I was really proud of the team effort put forth today that represented all the seniors fight for.”
