Rob Baker | For the Daily Journal
INDIANAPOLIS
It took some time, but Emily Metzger eventually got around to taking matters onto her own feet.
Greenwood’s senior midfielder scored two goals and assisted on two more as the Woodmen surged late for a 5-3 victory over Greenwood Christian at St. Francis Soccer Club on Thursday.
Metzger, a four-year starter, helped her squad break free from a 2-2 deadlock at halftime.
She now has 15 goals this season.
“We’re not normally used to playing on thick grass like this. We’re used to the fast-paced style of play on turf,” Metzger said. “But I just think we’re really tired, and in the first half that was keeping us sluggish.
“We just needed to bump up the energy, and work on some little things.”
Metzger scored the first goal of the match about two minutes in, with the first of her two long-range offerings that found the back of the net.
The Cougars tied it on senior Alli Curlee’s 13th goal of the season, one assisted by junior Izzy Cameron on a corner kick. Mallory Mahin put Greenwood back in front with a goal, but again, Cameron’s corner kick was deposited in the goal by Curlee for a 2-2 count.
Approximately 10 minutes into the second half, the Cougars took their lone lead when Cameron made a great move to the right to shake her defender and scored from 25 yards out. Metzger countered with a goal from 35 yards, and sophomore Joelle Young’s goal gave the Woodmen the lead for good.
The other Woodmen goal was scored by Kendyl Farmer.
Greenwood (6-3-2), which battled to a scoreless tie against Greenfield-Central on Monday and lost a hard-fought 1-0 decision to Plainfield on Wednesday, gets a much-deserved rest before facing Decatur Central.
The upcoming Mid-State Conference match against the Hawks on Wednesday will be only 17 minutes long, as it’s the continuation of a match previously halted by bad weather.
“The third game in four days is definitely tough, especially coming off a tough conference loss, so it takes a little time to get them refocused and get them energized,” Greenwood coach Daniel Appelbaum said. “I’m proud of the fight that they gave. Sometimes the ugly wins are the hardest to get.”
Greenwood Christian dropped to 3-6. Cameron’s two assists up her season total to 14.
“I’m proud that statistically this is a game we had no business being in. Our players gave every single thing they could on the field,” Cougars coach Suzie Cameron said. “Every minute they played hard, they played as a team. They just played with heart.
“We have a motto — ‘progress, not perfection.’”
Greenwood Christian will continue that journey on Saturday morning when it welcomes Muncie Burris for a 10:30 match at St. Francis.
