Crawfordsville’s girls soccer team got Homecoming Week started on the right foot with a 3-2 overtime win over Southmont.
Like the right foot of Caroline Novak, whose free kick from 45 yards out carried over South’s goalie and into the net with 5:36 left in the second OT.
It capped a back-and-forth match, as the Athenians move to 5-6 on the season, and get their first win against a pair of losses in the Sagamore Conference.
It also now means that a win in Thursday’s match at home against North Montgomery will mean a county championship for Crawfordsville. The victory over South was their first since 2015, and a county title Thursday would also be the first since ’15.
“It sure feels good,” Athenians coach Alex Ehrlich said. “We were able to capitalize on a couple of scoring opportunities. We worked the ball really well; our midfielders played the best they have played all season and our defenders fought to the end.”
The Mounties, who fall to 7-7 overall and 2-5 in the league, took an early lead on a Molly Williams goal with 9:40 left in the first half. The freshman put the only point on the first half scoreboard when she got a steal, got free and got a shot.
Jessica Hale got the second South goal
The junior, who leads the Sagamore Conference with 18 goals, tied the game at 2 with a free kick with 2:33 left in regulation, and was the most popular player on the field, as she drew double and sometime triple defensive coverage.
“It’s as simple as this – we were tired, no, we were exhausted,” said Mounties coach Roger Azar. “We had three tough matches in four days, (a win over) Benton Central Saturday, (a win over) Cascade Monday and tonight. We made mistakes that come from tired legs. Crawfordsville scored on a couple long shots and we kicked balls away instead of controlling them. That is no excuse, though. Crawfordsville played well and they deserved it. Congratulations go to them. We are all one community and Coach Ehrlich has done a great job with them.”
Down at halftime, the Athenians, who had managed only two shots on goal, re-grouped.
“We actually re-grouped twice,” Ehrlich said. “For the first five minutes of the match, I wanted us to play to South and their game and after about that five minutes, I said ‘Golly, we have to get back to what we do.’ At halftime, we had a little talk and I told them that we needed to be a team, a unit, and move on from mistakes. Tonight was the most I have ever seen this team want to win, and I told them it was there for the taking. They went out and got it.”
The Athenians got on the board with 28:39 left in regulation on the first of two goals by Riley Gardner. She headed in a perfect corner kick from Novak. The junior got a second marker less than three minutes later on a penalty kick, giving the home team a 2-1 lead.
“We got such great efforts from so many, and our defenders were awesome. Taylor Abston, Makenzie Lawton, Yuli Torres and Emily Weliver just never stopped.”
Athenians goal keeper Zoey Corbin faced 13 shots, but only seven in the second and extra periods. Mounties goalie Olivia Snapp saw two shots in the first half, but 12 in the second.
“Kudos to Snapp,” Azar said. “She is one of our hardest working players and is a solid young lady. She will be one of our senior captains and leaders next year. I also want to mention Molly Williams. She is an impressive freshman who hustles and never lets up. She will just get better and better.”
The Mounties, who could have claimed the county title with a win after an earlier victory over North, do have a couple days to rest. They travel to South Vermillion Saturday.
The Athenians and Chargers square off at CHS at 5:30 Thursday.
“I know North will be ready for us,” Ehrlich said. “After tonight, I think we will be ready for them.”
