LINDEN — Crawfordsville boys soccer seniors, just like their cross country seniors a week ago, accomplished a special feat on Wednesday night when the Athenians traveled to take on North Montgomery. The goals came fast and furious for CHS and they had no problems cruising to a 9-0 win. The win clinched their fourth straight county title as the Cville seniors went a perfect 4-4.
In the games first eight minutes, Crawfordsville (9-5, 5-1 SAC) scored three goals against their county rival. David Estrada scored on a corner kick just two minutes into the game, then Patrick Corado scored two minutes later, and Jaziel Gil-Herrera scored on a free kick to make it 3-0. Gil Herrera added scored his second goal of the game at the 20 minute mark and Corado completed the hat trick in the first half with two more goals. Manuel Olvera made the score 7-0 Athenians with six minutes to go in the half.
Olvera added his second goal five minutes into the start of half two and then Colton Custer at the 18:08 mark ended the game as the nine-goal mercy rule was reached.
“County is always one of those goals that we set for ourselves at the beginning of the season,” Crawfordsville coach Marcus Hale said. “You never want to take one of these county games for granted because they aren’t easy. There’s always great competition in all of our county sports and tonight our guys were able to check off of one of those big goals.”
North Montgomery (0-12, 0-6 SAC) had chances at points to put a goal on the board, but fell just short. Charger coach Tristain Hall noted how just a few small mistakes by his team led to the Athenians putting up the goals against the Chargers.
“We have to clean up our mental errors because that’s what led to some of their free runs tonight,” he said. “Crawfordsville has great athleticism and skill and they’re a team that will jump at any errors you make. We’ve had opportunities offensively all season long, but just haven’t been able to put many through the back of the net. Some of it’s unlucky and that’s another thing that we have to clean up as we get ready for the sectional.”
Crawfordsville had five different players find the back of the net in the win, something that’s been a theme of theirs all season. Olvera’s two goals against the Chargers gave him 18 on the year. Gil-Herrera’s two gave him 11 becoming the third Athenian to have 10+ goals this season. Kevin Puerto also has 10 for CHS with Corado now having six.
North Montgomery still has four games left in the regular season. Thursday they will host Indiana Math and Science Academy, before host Tindley on Monday, at Frankfort Tuesday and hosting Delphi Thursday. Hall notes how he’s still preaching to his team that they have the ability to finish strong in their final four games as they prepare for the sectional which is on the horizon.
“Getting even just one win will show these guys that they are a talented team,” Hall said. “Sometimes we’re getting out-hustled to some balls but these final four games I think we can get a couple and build this teams confidence as we head into the sectional.”
Crawfordsville while just two games next week, will have their hands full. CHS will travel to 9th ranked West Lafayette on Monday before completing SAC play next Thursday at Danville.
“We want to focus on playing well these final two games against some great competition,” Hale said. “Teams like Danville, who we might see in the sectional, and West Lafayette gives us a great test for the post-season. We have to be ready to play and you want to be playing your best heading into the sectional. That’s our goal next week.”
