With less than 5 minutes left on the clock, the score was still 0-0 and Bloomington South and Silver Creek were in a stalemate. Tensions were high and fatigue was starting to set in. This was both team’s third game in the past 24 hours, and as a result, many varsity starters on both sides were sitting on the bench because they were either minorly injured or running on only fumes. However, in the third to last minute of the game, the tide turned as senior Captain and varsity starter Ben Yeagley charged into the goal box, off a pass from Gabe Lika, and scored a goal that would be reviewed by the referees. After several moments of debate, the decision was made: the goal was good, and South had won the Nick Matavuli 2 Division title.
“I had no doubt we’d win today. We are a really good team, but given that we didn’t score until the end, the pressure was very high,” junior goalkeeper Tommy Mcevilly said.
With Coach Kevin Sparks’ decision to rest regular starting goalkeeper Giovanni Alicea for the last game, the expectations for Mcevilly were quite high, but he delivered with several crucial saves to keep a clean slate for the Panthers. “I played the entire third game, and I played very well. But as a team, I’d say we came together and played really hard,” said Mcevilly.
Midfield player and sophomore starter Grant Yeagley said, “Over the weekend we were very solid. Our defense played well the entire weekend.” said Yeagley.
Junior and offensive attacker Gabe Lika agreed. “We were successful when we decided to play like a group, together, sort of like a family. We picked each other up when we were down,” said Lika
The players’ emotions and physicality were getting to a breaking point, but when th finale goal was scored and counted, the team knew their job was done. “There was no doubt that we were gonna get that game, just a matter of when we would score.” Lika said.
“Ben just went in and scored like he usually does.” added G. Yeagley
Varsity Assistant coach/JV head coach Corbin Calvert was proud of his team’s efforts this weekend. “The first two games we played exceptionally well, especially coming off the Thursday game against Terre Haute North, so to have three games back to back to back we played very very well,” Calvert said.
Calvert was also honest about the the team’s exhaustion and injury count heading into the division title game. “The third game showed our fatigue from the weekend, so I think we’re ready for a little break now.”
When asked if the team will be a threat in the postseason, Calvert said, “absolutely, if we figure out the little things, correct small mistakes and right the offense, we’re gonna have one heck of a season. We’re a very high powered offense, but we all have to be on the same page every time, every game.”
