NEW MARKET — Southmont’s boys soccer season came to an end in a loss to top-ranked Covenant Christian.
The 10-0 final ends the Mounties season at 6-8-1, as they were steamrolled by the 1A, No. 1 ranked Warriors in their first match of the Section 40 tournament.
Covenant Christian moves to 14-1-1 on the season, as they start their quest for a state title, having been in the top spot in the polls most of the season.
The Warriors haven’t lost to a 1A team this season, and finished 7-0 in the rugged Indiana Crossroads Conference. Their only setback of the season has come to 3A Indianapolis Cathedral. They tied with Park Tudor.
“They are really good,” Mounties coach Ben Razo said after the match. “We did some good things, but they had so many weapons.”
Whether it was offense or defense, South found the going rough.
The Warriors put early points on the board to establish momentum, and then denied any access to the goal for the home team. They peppered South goal keeper Paul Hazlett with 20 shots on goal, and there were close to that more attacks where balls sailed wide or high.
Defensively, the Mounties could only put three shots on Warriors goal keeper Owen Hitchcock, who registered his 10th shutout of the season.
“We have only allowed eight goals all year,” said CC coach Josh Brown. “We’ve played well this season, and tonight was another good match.”
The Warriors have an eye on a much higher prize than just a Wednesday night sectional match win.
“The school has a good soccer history,” Brown continued. “There have been three trips to the (state) finals back from 2015 on, and we’ve gotten pretty deep into the tournament recently, but the biggest thing for us is that the last three years, we have been eliminated in matches by penalty kicks. We know we have to get to that point where we don’t have to win that way, because the breaks have gone against us. We have to avoid that bad luck.”
The Indianapolis team made their own luck, as five different players scored. Their leading scorer, William Doan, registered three goals, and even two reserve players got their first goals of the season later in the match.
Razo tipped his hat to the victors and talked about his squad as his first season as head coach comes to an end.
“I told the guys in the second half to just go out and have some fun,” he said. “We did really want to get a goal because they hadn’t given up many.”
The match also brings the soccer careers of nine Southmont senior to a close, as Andrew Little, Samuel Becerril, Tyler Petroski, Hunter Gray, Lucas Oppy, Quinton Hunt, Hazlett, Gabe Brenda and Laykin Roach all saw their last action.
“We wish all the seniors the absolute best in their lives,” Razo said. “I want to thank each of them for their leadership and playing all the roles they played this season. This team got a lot better as the season went on, and there was a of improvement in both individual and team play. We passed the ball better and better, and our record improved from last season. The seniors led the way, and I am excited about the future with a lot of good players coming back.”
That future starts in the weight room, according to Razo.
“We have to get stronger,” he said. “That allows us to be more physical, more aggressive. The message to the team is hit the weight room, play lots of soccer and practice individual skills, and keep improving communication skills.”
The Warriors will face University in the sectional championship match on Saturday, after University defeated North Putnam in the other semifinal. Covenant Christian defeated the Trailblazers 3-0 in the first week of the regular season.
