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GREENCASTLE GIRLS' SOCCER REGIONAL: Tiger Cubs endure more heartbreak as Bulldogs win penalty shootout
The roulette known as penalty kicks is a fickle matter.
Ninety-four minutes of action reduced down to 10 one-on-one battles. Or 14 as the case proved Wednesday night.
Greencastle hosted its second IHSAA Girls’ Soccer Regional Seminfial in as many years, facing off against Lapel with a trip to the Taylor Regional Final on the line.
The Tiger Cubs and Bulldogs battled for 80 minutes and an additional 14 minutes tied at 1-1 with penalties needed to split the two sides.
In the end, the visitors won in sudden death 4-3 on the 14th spot kick, advancing to the regional final Saturday while the hosts finished their season 16-4.
“That was one of the toughest games that the girls have played all together,” Greencastle head coach Alison Dobbs said. “I never looked out on the field and questioned if I felt if someone was giving their all.
“There wasn’t a time where I didn’t feel the girls were giving their all and that’s something for them to be extremely proud of. They were gassed but still fighting because they wanted it.
“Throughout the game, our passing game was solid,” Dobbs added. “There were some adjustments we needed to make and we did that but we still couldn’t come away with the win.”
With both sides unfamiliar with one another, the first 10 minutes were a feeling out process with Greencastle holding most of the possession.
Emily Hunsinger provided the first shot on target five minutes in with Penny Cummings also firing at Lapel goalkeeper Gracie Milligan.
The Bulldogs’ first shot came from Leila Wilson and it was from that section of play the visitors took the lead.
Following a throw in, Wilson fended off one challenge and before the defense could react, the sophomore fired inside Izzy Camera’s nearhand post for a 1-0 lead 11 minutes in.
The visitors soon hemmed Greencastle into its own half for several minutes before the Tiger Cubs regained some control following a long run from Sarah Simmerman that ended with a shot wide of goal.
Devyn Wedekind had a shot blocked on the other end and Camera was just able to beat Lilly Jacobs to the loose ball to prevent another scoring chance for Lapel.
“Izzy has been our rock in so many close games this year,” Dobbs said about the junior keeper. “The way she has come through for us this year has been unbelievable.”
The Tiger Cubs had a couple of deep looks from Ali Dobbs and Lilly Welch before a third long shot tied the match.
Eva Battin let loose with an effort from some distance but, unlike the others which dropped in front of Milligan, Battin’s came in above the goalkeeper’s head and Milligan spilled the shot behind her and into the back of the net.
“Eva has been a defender her whole life and this year, I switched some things up on her and put her as a forward,” Dobbs said. “She looked at me like I was crazy but it was for moments like tonight because she can smoke the ball.”
Greencastle looked for a second goal to take a lead into halftime but a late Dobbs blast caromed back off the football goalpost while Jacey Call hit straight at Milligan twice as the two teams went into the break level.
Both sides again started the half slow, working in their adjustments, with a Battin cross needing a headed intervention from the Lapel defense to clear the danger.
Wilson likewise had a cross cleaned up as the first 10 minutes came and went while Dobbs was teed up for a shot but Bulldog sweeper Ava Everman was able to block it for a corner, one that went over everyone.
Wilson soon became the match’s focal point as the sophomore was moved into a forward position and constantly kept the Greencastle defense under pressure with her speed and dribbling ability.
Behind her, midfielders Lilyana Horning and Sophie Goodwin constantly broke up attempts from the Tiger Cubs to get into the attack, leading to multiple chances for Wilson to try and win the match.
The hosts held firm, however, as Wilson had a shot blocked while sending several shots over the bar, including from a free kick with seven minutes remaining in regulation.
Greencastle had a couple of late chances, both involving Hunsinger, with a shot from distance at Milligan while a late corner reached the sophomore but on the knee with the ball looping well over the goalframe.
As 80 minutes wasn’t enough to separate the two teams, extra time was required with the best chance of a goal coming in the first seven minutes when Dobbs crossed from the right, the ball sitting in the Lapel penalty area until a last-ditch tackle removed the danger.
Action dwindled in the second session though there was a moment of concern for the Bulldogs when Wilson went down after committing a foul and was on the ground for several minutes before walking off on her own power.
With no score in the extra session, penalties were required with Penny Cummings missing the first shot wide of Milligan’s goal.
Wilson was able to take Lapel’s first attempt and though Camera got a hand to it, there was enough power on the shot to nestle in for a 1-0 advantage to the visitors.
Dobbs was saved by Milligan though Goodwin followed by firing over the bar to leave it 1-0.
Josie Cox rolled the ball past Milligan to make it 1-1 while Addyson Alsup saw her effort snapped up by Camera.
Call did not get Milligan to commit to a side and ended up shooting straight to the keeper but Horning fired too wide and hit Camera’s left post, leaving the tally level at 1-1.
Hunsinger calmly slotted her attempt into the upper left corner while Paige Stires was able to hit inside Camera’s left post to make it 2-2, leading to sudden death in the shootout.
Taylor Ball rifled her attempt past Milligan, forcing Avery Owen to convert and the junior did so by going over Camera but just under the bar to make it 3-3.
Battin stepped up next but saw her effort to her left saved by Milligan and Everman sent the Lapel faithful into euphoria by getting past Camera to the left for the 4-3 win.
Greencastle graduates four seniors from the squad with Dobbs noting the squad, despite several changes not only in personnel but in coaches, exceeded what many thought the group could accomplish.
“This year has been extra special having Ali on the team,” Dobbs said. “Laurel and Lauren have been like sisters. Kylie didn’t even start playing soccer until she was a freshman.
“Having that group of four girls, they’ve been a great group of seniors. We lost several seniors, some in key positions, and I don’t think people expected us to have the record we had this year.
“The girls put in so much work in a short period of time,” Dobbs added. “With the change of coaches in the spring and summer, to see their resiliency through all this and the work they’ve put in be rewarded has been wonderful.”