NEW PALESTINE — Mt. Vernon moved up the Hoosier Heritage Conference standings.
New Palestine had an ascent of its own, though leaving with a loss, at home, against its conference and Hancock County rival.
A header from senior Aiden Cappelletti with 13 minutes and 11 seconds remaining in the first half proved to be the game-winner in the Marauders 4-1 victory over the Dragons.
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It was the first of two goals from Cappelletti, who added an assist on the final Marauder tally. His second net-finder was his third goal of the season.
“It gives us confidence going into Thursday’s (conference game with Yorktown),” Cappelletti said. “We still have a lot to do if we want to keep going.”
Mt. Vernon improved to 3-0 in the HHC, adding the victory over the Dragons to previous league triumphs over New Castle and Delta. Overall, the Marauders are 4-3.
The Marauders have the most wins of any conference team. Yorktown, Thursday’s opponent, is 2-0 and Greenfield-Central is 1-0, while Shelbyville has yet to play an HHC game.
“This whole season, as many games as you can get in. It’s a win for you to have the boys back out on the field and playing,” Mt. Vernon coach Matt Mayhew said. “That’s exciting for me to see and the boys need it. I think all coaches are going to say that too. To be back with our teams and have them out there working is exciting.”
For the Dragons, Tuesday’s match was the first to be played on their home field. They had played five matches and lost them all by a combined score of 23-0.
“There’s good talent there. There’s great heart and great kids. They just got to start putting in the work,” New Palestine coach Brett Canova said. “There were glimpses of quick, one- and two-touch movement with the ball, which was really nice. We just need to get consistent with it.
“It’s going to be small baby steps. Our goal, honestly, is to be there at the end of the season and playing well at the sectional. We knew it was going to be a long way going. That’s OK. We’ll take it step by step.”
Mt. Vernon got on the board first, scoring four minutes in on a goal by Evan LeRoy, his second of the season.
The Dragons got its confidence-booster on a header from lone senior Colby Sharp. It came after a beautiful pass off a free kick by frosh Elliott Canova. Sharp’s goal tied the match 1-1 with 16:49 left in the first half.
“Nice service from Elliott Canova and a great effort to win it in the air and put it away by Colby,” coach Canova said. “I loved the fact he got up and battled for it and put it in the back of the net.”
Cappelletti ended the first-half scoring to regain the lead and he quickly extended it in the second. He scored just 40 seconds into the second half to increase the Marauders lead to 3-1.
“We wanted to try to step up our tempo early (in both halves),” Mayhew said. “We let off a little bit, but (coach Canova) does a good job getting his boys ready. This is always a dog-fight rivalry between us, so it always feels good to get a win here.”
Senior Jaden Price added another Mt. Vernon goal, assisted by Cappelletti, to up the margin to 4-1 with 23:19 remaining in the game.
Mt. Vernon (4-3, 3-0) will try to keep its HHC record unblemished when it hosts Yorktown, Thursday. New Palestine (0-6, 0-2) is back in action Tuesday, Sept. 8, also in HHC play, hosting New Castle.
“This definitely helps give us some confidence,” Mayhew added. “We have Yorktown on Thursday and I think they’re undefeated, as well, so that could be a big matchup.”
