RUSHVILLE — They seized the lead early and held on tight, shifting the plan as the need arose.
New Palestine defeated Beech Grove 9-2 in game three of a 2018 Girls Class 2A Soccer Sectional.
This sectional has served as a training ground for the Dragons when it comes to adjusting the team’s strategies mid stride, head coach Gina Fannin said.
The Hornets came out with a high offsides trap, but New Palestine’s Dragons have become accustomed to going with the flow, Fannin said.
“We got a couple offsides, but we adjusted and figured things out,” Fannin said. “We’re not used to being able to dribble down the field; we’re usually passing down the field. They did well and did what they needed to do.”
“If they bring something you don’t expect, you just adjust,” Fannin added. “They want to win, so they’re going to find their way.”
The Dragons got to work piling on goals from the starting whistle. New Palestine’s Maddy Miller drew first blood seven minutes into the first half. The next four minutes saw two more unanswered goals from the Dragons’ Victoria Crowder and Mariah Corey.
Beech Grove’s Jillian Weidner managed to give New Palestine an answer, sending a high shot over the head of Dragons goalkeeper Haley Weinrich.
But New Palestine’s momentum proved difficult to stop. Miller scored again after a quick back-and-forth battle with Beech Grove’s goalkeeper Taylor Harmon.
The Dragons followed up with four consecutive goals from Crowder, Olivia Lambdin, Haley Harrison and Emmy Giddens.
Beech Grove’s Myaa McKee bit back with a shot of her own at the end of the first half, giving her team a second point before the end of the first half.
The second half didn’t see any scoring, with the Dragons holding the line and shutting out the Hornets’ offense; the final score, 9-2 Dragons.
New Palestine will go on to face Shelbyville on Saturday at 2 p.m. for the sectional championship.
New Palestine beat the Golden Bears 6-0 last week, but Crowder said the Dragons are heading into their final sectional championship game confident but cautious.
“We have to go out with each team without looking at the records,” Crowder said. “We need to play each game as if we’re playing the hardest team … like we’re going out to play Mt. Vernon.”
