Executive Director
INDIANAPOLIS ââ?¬â?? Soccer is a subtle game. It is a
sport where statistics tell you very little. You see, there is a difference
between ball possession and dangerous possession. There is a difference between
shots on goal and threatening shots on goal.
As a
result, it is often difficult to really know who is controlling a game. That
was the case for much of the evening Oct. 27 in the boys soccer state
championship game at
Kuntz Stadium between top-ranked Evansville Memorial and No. 16 Chesterton.
Both teams
were content to play an up-and-down style for much of the game, and the ball spent
much of the time in the air. As is often the case, it was a lightning strike
early in the second half that gave Memorial a 1-0 victory.
The win
did more than simply give the Tigers their first state championship. It also
concluded an undefeated season and assured them of the No. 1 national ranking
in high school soccer ââ?¬â?? not a bad dayââ?¬â?¢s
work.
For much
of the evening, it looked as if this would be the result. As the first half
progressed, more and more of the time was being spent in the Chesterton half of
the field. Memorial seemed to have by far the more direct style of attack,
however, and the Tigers were slowly establishing control.
Despite
outshooting the Trojans 14-2 during the opening half, however, they mounted few
serious scoring threats. At intermission, it was still a scoreless game.
In the
early minutes of the second half, it appeared Chesterton had made some strong
adjustments. Now much of the game was being played in front of the Memorial
net.
Then came
the lightning strike.
On one of
Memorial�s few second-half runs into Chesterton territory, the Trojans were
called for a penalty. The result was a great cross in front of the net and a
header by Austin King that gave the Tigers all the lead they would need.
Memorial
quickly shifted into defensive mode, and it worked. Chesterton had but one
legitimate scoring chance in the last five minutes of the game, and it was
deflected harmlessly away.
The Tigers
had advanced to the final by defeating unranked Goshen, 2-0, in one morning semifinal.
Chesterton, meanwhile, was forced to go the maximum distance in downing
seventh-ranked North Central (Indianapolis)
on penalty kicks, 6-5, after a scoreless regulation and two overtimes.
It was a
gratifying championship win for Evansville Memorial for many reasons, not the
least of which is this was the third consecutive trip to the Final Four for
this legendary program. This time the Tigers went home with the hardware � and
a whole lot more.
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