Tough Finish: Marauders fall to Arabians in penalty-kick shootout

0
744
A Pendleton Heights’ player has to avoid interfering with Mt. Vernon goalkeeper Bryce Glazier (0) as he makes a save during their game on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Rob Baker/Daily Reporter)

PENDLETON — With his right hand wrapped and the exhaustion from 94 minutes of soccer written across his face, Mt. Vernon senior Tyler Webb struggled to hide his disappointed Thursday night.

Not in his team. Not in the effort.

It came down to the final numbers illuminated on the scoreboard.

Webb knew the Marauders missed a golden opportunity during Mt. Vernon’s Hoosier Heritage Conference season finale at rival Pendleton Heights.

While statistically, the Marauders shouldn’t have even been in the game, they seemingly gritted their way to a short-lived, 1-0 lead before eventually falling in heartbreaking penalty-kick shootout, 2-1 (3-1).

“It was a good game overall, and we were all motivated. It’s just that they wanted it a little bit more than we did, but I’m proud of everybody because we fought hard today,” said Webb as he wiped his forehead.

The Marauders (7-6) came into their match with the host Arabians (9-4) eyeing a potential four-way tie for first place in the HHC.

Mt. Vernon carried a 4-2 HHC record entering the night, while Pendleton Heights was 3-1.

Both New Palestine and Yorktown were also 4-2 in the conference as of Thursday afternoon, which meant, a Marauders’ win would tighten up the top-half of the standings even further and put the pressure on the Arabians.

Pendleton Heights found a way to quiet that possibility, however, moving to 4-1 in the HCC, while Mt. Vernon dropped to 4-3.

“Everybody is right around two losses, and we’re the one team with one, so we’ve got that target on our back. Everybody is bringing their best game when they play us,” Pendleton Heights coach Kyle Davy said. “We control our own destiny, so we have to just keep coming out and keep winning.”

After a scoreless first half, the Arabians appeared to have met their match despite out-shooting the Marauders 8-3 through the first 40 minutes and 21-15 over the course of 80-regulation minutes and 14 more in two overtimes.

“In that first half, I felt like we dominated possession,” Davy said. “We talked to the guys at halftime. A big conference game like this, you have to sellout. You’ve got to want to win. We went down a goal, and kudos to our guys. They didn’t hang their head. They kept their heads up, and we found the equalizer and we kept fighting.”

Webb put the fear into the Arabians during the 43rd minute with a goal off an assist from Brennan La Belle to make it 1-0.

The Marauders elation didn’t last long, though.

In the 44th minute, the Arabians tied the game 1-1 as Parker Suchyna played the ball to Cole Bubalo, who lined in the neutralizing goal.

“If felt great (getting that first goal), but it’s what we do after the goal that matters the most. It’s not how we get it. It’s what we do after,” Webb said.

Other than that brief minute, the Marauders made every second matter.

Goalkeeper Bryce Glazier recorded four saves in the first half, seven more in the second and one more in overtime for 12 overall.

“He was amazing tonight, honestly. He pulled off some great saves. We wouldn’t have went to PKs without him,” Webb said.

The Marauders defense fended off 16 shots on goal by the Arabians, while Mt. Vernon squared up five the entire contest.

“Those back four have been solid for us all year,” Mt. Vernon head coach Matt Mayhew said. “We always preach, what are you going to do the first five minutes after a goal? That’s always a danger time. If you let down, they’re going to capitalize on you. And, it happened tonight.”

Neither team could gain any ground after the 44th minute, however, as both traded chances with a combined 21 shots in the second half.

Pendleton Heights was awarded 12 free kicks and had three corners during regulation and overtime, but nothing amounted from them.

Mt. Vernon had seven free kicks, but their 12 fouls halted any momentum throughout.

“We just kept looking for our chances, and luckily, we got one,” Davy said.

The Arabians’ opening came in a one-on-one scenario as they hammered home three straight penalty kicks during the game-ending shootout.

Mt. Vernon missed their first PK attempt to start, while Arabians’ goalkeeper William Phillips put his team up 1-0 in the shootout.

A PK goal by Webb made it 1-1, but consecutive missed by the Marauders and conversions by Kam Kail and Bubalo ended the marathon.

“It’s frustrating, but I know we have the next game,” Webb said. “We just have to keep putting in that work. That effort, and we’ll be set for sectional.”

The shootout was Mt. Vernon’s third this season and first not to go their way.

“We went 22 kickers in Shelbyville. Sometimes, they go your way, and sometimes, they don’t,” Mayhew said. “You hate see it come down to that because you’d love to see the play, but we do have great chemistry and we’re finally getting a lot of our guys back, which is awesome.”

Slowed by COVID-19 contact tracing quarantines this season, the Marauders opened the year 4-1 before going 3-3 before Thursday.

At near full strength again, the team is turning its attention towards their final two regular-season games before the postseason.

“We wanted this one, but we have senior night on Tuesday and then the following week, we have sectional,” Mayhew said. “That’s what we’re setting our sights on now. Hopefully, we can jell and get it going. We’ll get it figured out. I have faith in them, and they’re a good group of boys. It’s just learning moments and you have to take it and build off of it.”