NEW PALESTINE — Coach Brett Canova’s New Palestine boys soccer team did all he asked.
It just wasn’t quite enough in Saturday’s New Palestine Sectional title match with defending champion East Central.
The Trojans defeated the Dragons to win the sectional tournament for the fourth straight year, 1-0, scoring the game’s only goal in the 47th minute.
East Central won its ninth straight match and had its sixth straight shutout. The Trojans improved to 17-1-1 and will travel to Indianapolis Cathedral for a regional semifinal Wednesday. Cathedral defeated Southport 2-0 in the Warren Central Sectional title match Saturday.
New Palestine finished its season 9-9. The Dragons were co-champions of the Hoosier Heritage Conference.
“I couldn’t be more proud of them.” Canova said. “They worked so hard and played well. East Central was just that little, little bit better. It wasn’t by much. Congrats to them. They won it, but we played our rear ends off. No shame in it. No shame in it at all.”
After a scoreless first half with minimal scoring opportunities on both sides, East Central scored with 33:33 remaining in the match.
East Central’s Brennan Lewis crossed a pass toward the front of the goal and Jacob Gagnon headed it in and by New Palestine goalkeeper Jake Wells. It was Gagnon’s 11th goal of the season.
“They worked for it,” Canova said of the East Central goal. “They put it in a dangerous place, worked for it and put it in. Give them credit. They knocked it in.
“We knew we had to work real hard. It was all going to be about athleticism, speed and work rate. They play very fast and very strong and we had to find a way to match that. I thought we did a pretty good job of it. We created some opportunities and we were dangerous at times.”
New Palestine had some opportunities in the game’s final few minutes.
In the 67th and 68th minute, Andon Colclazier had a pair of tries. The first went high, the second was saved by East Central goalkeeper C.J. Inderhees.
In the 72nd minute, Colclazier passed to a hustling Mark Everett, but Everett just couldn’t quite get to the ball in time to put a foot on it.
Inderhees made another save in the 73rd minute on a Cohen Wintin attempt, which came on a nice feed from Elliott Canova.
The final quality opportunity came in the 75th minute, Eli Martin found Wintin, but his attempt went just wide left of the goal.
“Never quit. Never gave up,” coach Canova said of his team. “We were knocking on the door. (East Central) defends real hard. They defend very well. They keep pressure on you and don’t let you get anything easy. They make you work for everything you get.”
Late in the scoreless first period, New Palestine looked like it might have the best chance to take the lead.
In the 33rd minute, Drew Potter’s free kick into the box led to a pair of East Central players colliding with Dragon senior Wintin, but no foul was called.
Wells made a couple of key saves late, one in the 37th minute and another in the 39th, but the biggest save may have come from senior defenseman Alex Richwine.
East Central’s Lewis had a pretty good look, but a sliding block save from Richwine stopped the attempt.
Elliott Canova had a long attempt in the final 10 seconds of the half saved by Inderhees.
“This group of seniors and this group this year, (they put in) phenomenal work.” coach Canova said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them. They worked their rear ends off. That’s all I ever ask of them and they did it. I’m proud of them.”
