Greenfield-Central’s Bryce Kinnaman, right, leads the Cougars in goals this season with six.
The Daily Reporter File Photo
By Brady Extin | Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD — For the fourth straight time and third straight against a Hoosier Heritage Conference opponent, Greenfield-Central’s boys soccer team earned a shutout victory.
The Cougars knocked off Delta 3-0 at the G-C Soccer Complex Tuesday.
Along with improving to 6-1-2 overall and 3-0 in the HHC, the Cougars hang on to the conference’s traveling trophy, something it grabbed from Mt. Vernon on Sept. 9 of last season.
Greenfield-Central goalkeeper Jordin Jones had accumulated 30 saves over the last three wins, but wasn’t needed much by the Cougars on Tuesday.
Although the keeper’s defenders limited the Eagles to very few scoring opportunities, Greenfield-Central assistant coach Matt McConnell thinks the defense could’ve been a little sharper at times.
“We’re certainly pleased with the defense, but the first half wasn’t our best play.” McConnell said. “I thought the week off took us out of rhythm a little bit. It was nice that they found the rhythm in the second half. They had way fewer attacks and we were in control for the majority of the half.”
The game was Greenfield-Central’s first in September. Its last match was a 5-0 victory at Pendleton Heights on Aug. 30.
Similarly to the defense, it took the offense until the second half to get to full speed, too.
The Cougars had opportunities in the first half, but between offsides penalties, missed chances on centered passes, and some good saves by Delta goalkeeper Samori McKell-Jeffers, they couldn’t find the back of the net.
The best opportunity came with 12 minutes to go in the half when Greenfield-Central’s leading scorer Bryce Kinnaman put a header on net that was stopped by a diving McKell-Jeffers.
Just 30 seconds later, Kinnaman fired another shot on net that was once again saved by a diving McKell-Jeffers.
“Credit to their goalkeeper. He had a couple great saves in that first half,” McConnell said. “Bryce had a good header, and he just looked it down where he’s supposed to and just made a great save.”
With the score 0-0 at halftime, McConnell and the coaching staff emphasized to the team how important it was for them to keep their composure and to keep attacking.
“At halftime we just talked about how much composure was needed, and how much we just needed to think under pressure,” McConnell said. “If we were to do that we thought we’d be good.”
The Cougars did just that.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Greenfield-Central’s relentless attack finally paid off.
Cougars midfielder Drew Davidson beat McKell-Jeffers to the left side from just outside of the box to break the stalemate.
A minute later, Davidson struck again. After a Delta penalty near the right corner of the field, Greenfield-Central’s Josiah Findley fired the free kick near the front of the net, and in a crowd of people, Davidson was able to knock the ball off of his chest and into the back of the net.
With seven minutes to go in the game, Dalton Evanoff gave the Cougars some insurance and added a goal to increase the lead to 3-0.
The Cougars will now look ahead to one of the toughest games of the season on Thursday when they travel to Fortville to take on Mt. Vernon.
It’s not only a battle between two teams undefeated in conference play, the game will also be for both the traveling conference bell and the Rob Thomas Cup, the Hancock County traveling prize.
“It’s going to be a tough game. It’s at Mt Vernon and they are a talented group. We expect a good old-fashioned rivalry game,” McConnell said. “Hopefully we have rhythm and can be ready to go and have a good match.”
