Matthew Haycraft’s goal in the 11th minute of play gave the Cougar soccer team all it would need as they defeated Meade County 1-0 in the championship game of the 11th District Soccer Tournament, held at Meade County.
The Cougar defense held the Green Wave scoreless throughout the game, though there were a couple of close calls. In the 10th minute of play, senior goal keeper Brady Whobrey made a diving stop on a hard shot. In the 18th minute Meade had a free kick from about 30 yards out, but shot the ball high over the Cougar goal.
In the 31st minute, Meade County striker Shane Seitz had a shot from about 10 yards out graze the cross bar and head on out of bounds.
In the 11th minute, the Cougars had a throw-in deep in the Green Wave end. Haycraft got onto the ball and took it horizontally toward the Meade goal, finally unleashing a crossing shot that got by Meade goalie Kyler Chapman and settled into the left corner of the net, setting off a celebration along the Cougar sidelines.
That was it for the scoring, though the Cougars had a couple of good chances in the game. In the seventh minute of play, senior Wyatt Schultz had a free run down the middle of the field, but shot the ball wide of the net.
In the 24th minute, Haycraft took a free kick just outside of the penalty area, but put the ball over the net. In the 28th minute, Haycraft got free down the middle of the field, but his shot was stopped on a great, diving save by Chapman.
Meade came out in the second half applying heavy pressure on the Cougars, but the defense stayed firm and kept the Green Wave scoreless.
Following the game, Haycraft, Schultz, Whobrey and senior Logan Raymer were all named to the All-Tournament Team.
By Don Brown, Local Sports
Reach Don at donbrown@k105.com
