#16 NorthWood - New Prairie 6-2 (2-0)

New Prairie visits the Panthers on a picture perfect Fall day. The JV starts out with a win on a Kyler Fike goal. The Varsity takes the field with the knowledge that only three more (home) games are guaranteed for the season and for the seniors, their careers at NW. The back and forth flow of th game is interrupted by stoppage in the 16th when a hand ball in the New Prairie box turns into a PK for the Panthers. Carlos takes the penalty and decidedly puts it away for the 1-0 lead. The prettiest combination of the day starts with a Dominic DeFreitas rabona to the left side where Grant receives it and then then crosses it perfectly into the box to Carlos. His header is directed downward and hits the right post and bounces back out. In the 32nd, NW boys soccer history is made again when Michele Calderone scores (Maddox free kick) the first Italian goal in program history.2-0 is the HT score. At the half some minor adjustments are discussed. The second half does not start out the way anyone would like. A total lack of focus causes the Panthers to give up an own goal in the 44th, 2-1 now. Fortunately, Carlos attacks the box aggressively in the 46th. The only one going with in the box is Maddox (Jack is trailing, no one else is around). Carlos' shot/cross hits the crossbar and the very alert Maddox Brown picks up the rebound and shoots the ball into the ropes for a 3-1 lead. Another 180 seconds later, Maddox gets involved again and assists Dom when the latter puts in #4 (4-1). The nicest goal of the day goes to Jager Bute. In the 51st, Grant Miller passes a nice ball just around the box. Jager's first touch is great, the second touch gets rid of the defender and the third one is the shot in the corner that makes the score 5-1. The Cougars try to get back into the game when they score in the 56th (5-2) but a Michele Calderone pass to Grant in the 76th puts the game out of reach when Grant scores to make the final score 6-2. The Varsity moves to 8-6-1 on the season with one game to go in the regular season. That game will be Tuesday when we host NLC opponent Plymouth on our 2023 Senior Night.