Parker Gribbins
By James Horne
For The Republic
WHITELAND — Center Grove knew all it needed was just a little time and ironically, Columbus North did too.
After trailing 1-0 in the first half, the Trojans’ patience was rewarded and they ended the Bull Dogs’ season by scoring two second-half goals, one off a penalty kick, in their 2-1 triumph in the second semifinal of the boys soccer sectional Wednesday night at the Whiteland Soccer Complex.
Center Grove (9-6-3) will meet Whiteland (9-9) in the sectional championship game at 2 p.m. Saturday. Whiteland beat Shelbyville 2-0 in the first semifinal Wednesday.
North (7-5-5) was excited to get the game’s first goal. The Bull Dogs took that 1-0 lead when Parker Gribbins scored from in right in front of a scrum in the 28th minute and took the margin into halftime.
Still, North knew it might have trouble holding on to the advantage.
The Trojans gained their first goal due to a handball penalty committed by the Bull Dogs in the goalie box in the 43rd minute. It allowed the Trojans’ Owen Kalmas to step to the line, and he rocketed his PK to the left, and tied it at 1-all. And he wasn’t done helping there.
In the 54th minute Kalmas’ pass set up a one-timer for Cooper Worley, who blasted the shot to the back right of the net to make it the eventual 2-1 final.
“We did well and had a very, very sensible first half,” North coach Andy Glover said. “But their depth shined, and we were light in terms of depth, and that’s OK. It’s a game of moments. I hate that they gave a penalty, and the restart down there could have just as easily been a penalty for us. The (referee) guy made some decisions I disagree with. But he’s got the whistle, so it is what it is.”
