Center Grove’s boys’ soccer team won a conference championship, compiled a 15-2 regular-season record and was ranked third in Class 3A this season.
None of it mattered in Wednesday’s sectional semifinal against Perry Meridian.
The host Trojans mustered several shots on goal, and came tantalizingly close on a few, but never could connect against the Falcons. Van Dawt Lian’s goal on a breakaway with 6:53 remaining in the first half was all the Falcons needed to register a stunning 1-0 win and end the Trojans’ season.
Perry Meridian (10-7-2) advances to Saturday’s championship match, where it will face Roncalli at 7 p.m. The Rebels (11-5-2) defeated Whiteland 6-3 in Wednesday’s first semifinal match, ending the Warriors’ season at 10-7.
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Center Grove defeated Perry Meridian 6-0 in an Aug. 16 match, but couldn’t finish at the net Wednesday. Trojans coach Jameson McLaughlin said it was simply a matter of execution.
“Sometimes, it’s just not your night,” McLaughlin said. “We had no issue (with Perry Meridian) in the regular season, but this just wasn’t our night. We’ve scored oodles of goals all year, and for some reason tonight, it just wasn’t going in.”
The Falcons also eliminated the Trojans in the sectional opener last year. McLaughlin said there was a common denominator in both losses.
“They have a really good keeper,” McLaughlin said of the Falcons’ Luciano Salemi, who made several impressive saves. “The shot that Aaron (McDaniel) hit in the first half that was a knuckleball, he was leaning right, the ball knuckled back and he still went back and got it. He’s been our kryptonite for three years.”
Perry Meridian also defeated the Trojans in a 2016 regional match.
Despite the loss, McLaughlin expressed pride in what the Trojans achieved.
“They’re probably one of the best teams I’ve ever coached,” McLaughlin said. “They were just unlucky tonight. One loss doesn’t ruin a whole year for me.”
In Wednesday’s first semifinal match, Roncalli took a 2-0 lead in the first 22 minutes and slowly built it up from there, going up 6-1 with 28:03 remaining before Whiteland concluded the scoring with a pair of Shawn Sullivan goals.
Vince Agramonte led the way for the Rebels, scoring the match’s first two goals and adding an assist. Robert Thang, Sam Jordan, Bryan Guerrero and Garrett Simmerman each added goals for Roncalli.
The match was a stark contrast from the Rebels’ 1-0 win over the Warriors during a Sept. 22 regular-season meeting.
“Our energy was better today,” Roncalli coach Joseph Schonegg said, comparing the matches. “We knew what was at stake. We had a lot of respect for Whiteland. We controlled the game, even though we didn’t keep (the ball) in our attacking third for a majority of the time. We capitalized on our opportunities. We attacked well down the wings and got some really good crosses in.”
Drake White’s goal off a Gilbert Gallegos assist with 8:14 remaining in the first half drew Whiteland within 2-1, but Roncalli scored the match’s next four goals to put an end to any suspense.
“We started out a little sluggish, and (Roncalli) took full advantage of it,” Whiteland coach Justin VanHorn said. “I hate to see a team that goes 10-6 have a match like that in the second round of sectionals. They found our weaknesses on our back line defensively, and their defensive line is just phenomenal.”
