Northview's quest to tame Tiger Cubs falls short
Three goals in the first 20 minutes of the second half propelled Greencastle to a 4-3 win over Northview in WIC boys’ soccer action Thursday evening.
The Knights struck first near the midway point of the first half as, following several turnovers, the visitors finally punished the Tiger Cubs when Jackson Stakeman drove down the left and sent Tanner Hayes through, the latter sliding a shot past Conor Petrie for the lead.
Greencastle equalized seven minutes from halftime as a goalmouth scramble from a Mylin Tucker corner ended when Fischer Barcus slammed home from 10 yards out.
Northview would get a second goal to take the lead into the break when the hosts failed to clear the ball from the edge of the box and Hayes slipped in to slot home his second of the night.
The Tiger Cubs leveled a second time 10 minutes into the second half when Travis Overshiner was brought down in the box with Tucker dispatching the penalty.
A minute later Greencastle had its first lead when Barcus headed in a cross from Aidan Vaglia from a quick break.
A fourth goal came near the midway point of the half when a Tucker corner went off the crossbar and Madden Slagle slashed home from close range.
The Tiger Cubs were in control but ceded some of it a few minutes later when Dylan Barcus turned into his own net trying to cut out a cross from Brayden Kreiger.
A hot and humid evening played its part late on as several players went down with leg cramps, breaking up the flow of play.
The delays allowed Northview to build up a late head of steam but the Knights saw two shots crash off either post as the hosts held on for the win, stopping a two-match slide and moving to 2-2 in WIC play while the Knights remain winless to start the 2024 season and are 0-2 in conference action.