Franklin’s Brayden Petro passes the ball against Columbus North during Thursday’s sectional semifinal.
Paige Grider | For the Daily Journal
COLUMBUS
Franklin made a late charge Wednesday night, but couldn’t quite overcome Class 3A No. 10 Columbus North in a sectional semifinal matchup.
The Grizzly Cubs got a goal from Riley Flora in the 69th minute, but couldn’t get the equalizer, and North held on for a 2-1 victory.
“I thought the second half, we played really hard,” Franklin coach Tony Harris said. “The first half, we played hard. We just got out of what we were trying to get done. The second half, we battled, we fought, we played a little bit more the way we wanted to play. That’s a heck of a soccer team, and we got back in it. We felt like a call or two go our way, we’re right there.”
The Bull Dogs (11-3-3) move on to the sectional final at 2 p.m. Saturday, where they will face Roncalli. The Royals edged Franklin Central 3-2 in Wednesday’s first semifinal.
North got on the board in the 26th minute when Christian Cardoso scored off an assist from Obed Olivo. The Bull Dogs made it 2-0 just before halftime on a goal by Misaki Takemoto off an assist from Bryan Rodriguez.
Franklin’s only shot in the first half came when North defender Konnor Gribbins cleared a ball off the goal line.
Following Flora’s goal in the 69th minute, the Grizzly Cubs’ Jace Patterson put a shot that would have tied it just wide right in the 72nd minute.
“Credit to Franklin,” North coach Andy Glover said. “They came heavy in the second half, and we were a little out of sync. The boys defended well, but we certainly want to be able to attack a little better. We did get moments on the counter attack and almost made it three (goals) there. Those are circumstances that we kind of prepare for.
The Bull Dogs outshot the Grizzly Cubs 14-4, putting five shots on goal to two for Franklin. Adam Ott recorded three saves for the Grizzly Cubs.
Franklin finishes the season 13-3-1. The Grizzly Cubs went 7-0 in winning the Mid-State Conference.
“It was an awesome season,” said Harris, who is departing Franklin later this month to become assistant athletic director at Southport. “We’ll miss all these seniors and all these guys that played hard for me all year and for four years. It’s just hard to lose like that.”
By Ted Schultz of The (Columbus) Republic, a sister newspaper of the Daily Journal.
