Center Grove boys soccer wins in shootout

<p>Faced with potential postseason elimination Wednesday evening, 18th-ranked Center Grove had the perfect person in goal.</p><p>Junior Caiden Stoneburner put his body in front of two Roncalli kicks during a shootout, sealing the Trojans’ thrilling 4-3 semifinal victory at the Class 3A sectional at Center Grove.</p><p>The win moves the Trojans (8-4-4) into Saturday night’s championship match against Southport. The Cardinals defeated Perry Meridian in the second semifinal, 1-0.</p><p>“Caiden has not played soccer for very long. This is, like, his third year after sitting out about four, but the growth of that young man has been exponential,” Center Grove coach Jameson McLaughlin said. “He’s also one of the coolest, calmest human beings you’re ever going to meet.</p><p>“There’s one level for him and it’s under control. I told him I wouldn’t rather have any other keeper than him because he’s going to be calm, and he’s going to get a couple.”</p><p>Which is exactly what happened.</p><p>Roncalli’s first shot was by sophomore Luke Kegerreis, but his left-footed offering was stopped by a diving Stoneburner. The Trojans made good on their first four tries, delivered, in order, by Aaron McDaniel, Aiden Kinstler, Landen Montfort and Ely Detty, to lead by a goal in the shootout.</p><p>One final opportunity remained for Roncalli, but its fifth player to kick, junior midfielder Samuel Gantner, sent his left-footer directly into Stoneburner.</p><p>“I was very confident. I knew that our team, they were all going to put them in,” Stoneburner said. “All really good shooters. All really calm. And, of course, I was hoping I could get a couple saves. I had all the confidence in the world they were all going to put them in, and that helped me. It gave me confidence, too.</p><p>“We do have a younger team this year. Starting out the season, we didn’t have a lot of experience. We’ve just built throughout the year.”</p><p>Neither team scored in the opening half, but the final 16 minutes of regulation contained enough suspense and shifts in momentum to keep spectators on the edge of their seats.</p><p>Center Grove got on the board first with 15:43 remaining with McDaniel assisting Kinstler on a goal. Roncalli freshman Eli Miller broke into the clear and tied the score with a goal at the 13:11 mark. Roncalli took the lead 3 minutes, 13 seconds later on a goal by junior forward Brady Newett.</p><p>With time winding down, the Trojans were only 51 seconds from elimination when Detty scored on a header with Kinstler picking up the assist.</p><p>“We had so many opportunities the last 20 minutes of the game,” McLaughlin said. “I mean, we go up 1-0 and completely fall asleep and then give up two. For him to score with 51 seconds left as a freshman, that kid is going to be one heck of a player.”</p><p>Roncalli ends its season with a record of 8-9-1.</p>