Greenfield-Central’s Bryce Kinnaman and Drew Davidson celebrate Davidson’s first-period goal against Mt. Vernon on Thursday.
Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
FORTVILLE — Drew Davidson got the goal, but he wasn’t about to take all the credit.
Goalkeeper Jordin Jones got the shutout, his eighth of the season, and he was quick to recognize those in front of him that helped make it happen.
Thursday at Mt. Vernon High School, Greenfield-Central’s team effort kept a clean sheet on the scoreboard and its Hoosier Heritage Conference record with a 1-0 victory over Mt. Vernon.
Davidson scored, assisted by Bryce Kinnaman, with just 1:19 left in the first half.
The Cougars are 7-1-2 overall and 4-0 in the HHC. Mt. Vernon, which had won five straight, dropped to 5-3 overall and 4-1 in the conference. It was the Marauders fifth straight HHC match.
“Bryce really did all the hard work. I was just there to seal the deal,” Davidson said. “Bryce got a long ball, dribbled it with, I think, three guys on his back to the 18. He slotted it across the 18 to me. I was back post and I was able to tap it in.”
G-C hangs on to the HHC Victory Bell as well as the Rob Thomas Cup, a traveling trophy between the three Hancock County schools.
The Thomas Cup started last season, one year ago, in the MV-GC match at Greenfield-Central. The Cougars are the only team to win the prize named after the local, longtime club and school soccer coach who passed away in 2018 after a battle with cancer.
It was Greenfield-Central’s fifth straight shutout and eighth of the season, just two shy of the school single-season record of 10. The win is the fifth straight.
Jones gave a lot of credit to his defense, but he made a couple of outstanding saves, too.
Midway through the second half Nick Heitman had a strong attempt knocked away by Jones. He leaped, batted the ball, which went off the cross bar to keep the score 1-0.
“I saw the ball coming, my defender was in front of me,” Jones said. “I had to take a little step back and paired my hand up and just saved it. I was in disbelief, honestly. I couldn’t have done it without my defense there.”
“Our defense, I’m really proud of them being strong throughout,” Greenfield-Central assistant coach Matt McConnell added. “Jordin’s save was probably one of the best saves I’ve seen a high school kid make and he’s a sophomore. I couldn’t be prouder of our defense and our goalkeeper making plays to keep us in.
“What you need a goalkeeper for is keep you in games and Jordin does that very well.”
With just 20 seconds to go, Mt. Vernon’s Akseli Huopalahti found an opening in the Cougar defense, but his point-blank shot was saved by Jones, too.
“I’m proud of our guys,” Mt. Vernon coach Matt Mayhew said. “It was a hard-fought battle, one goal difference. We were in it and had chances. Their keeper made two great saves. (Heitman’s shot) He just came out of nowhere and got it. We knew he was a good keeper. Tonight was their night.”
Davidson is having quite a week. On Tuesday, he scored his first two goals of the season in a 3-0 HHC victory against Delta.
Davidson came into the week with five assists, but was looking for his first goal. He kept the momentum from Tuesday’s match into Thursday’s big win.
“I can’t say I’ve done it by myself,” Davidson added. “Without these boys, it would be impossible.”
Mt. Vernon continues its run of playing conference foes. The Marauders next match is Tuesday at Shelbyville.
Greenfield-Central continues conference and county rivalry play next Thursday, at New Palestine.
