For The Tribune
FRANKLIN
Seymour may not have gotten off as many shots, but the Owls made the most of their opportunities and rolled to a 4-1 win at Franklin in boys soccer Saturday.
The host Grizzly Cubs outshot Seymour 36-25, including 23-17 on goal, and launched attempts from all over the field.
And while the Owls weren’t as prolific, they certainly were more efficient, and that was more than enough to keep them undefeated on the year.
“I think we created better opportunities, and they settled for shots from distance,” Seymour coach Matt Dennis said. “Our opportunities were great. We had good combination plays, and our guys were really getting forward as a team. There was very little kick it to the front and let them go get it. Every shot was after three or four passes. It was great to see.”
Franklin (5-2) peppered the Seymour net from the opening kick and scored 14 minutes into the contest when Owen Mahin’s header off of a direct kick by E.J. Young staked the Grizzly Cubs to a 1-0 lead.
But Franklin was unable to get anything else past Seymour keeper Elliot Clark, who stopped 16 shots in the game and bailed out an Owl defense that got beat numerous times in the middle.
“(Franklin) did get into our box quite a bit, and any time Elliott Clark has to make 16 saves, we didn’t do our job in the midfield,” Dennis said. “But the reason we’re in a lot of games is because of Elliott Clark. When he needs to make a ton of saves, he can.”
Seymour (7-0-1) quickly regrouped after Franklin’s goal and backed up Clark with three markers of its own to take control of the game by the half.
Zach Moore tied the game just two minutes after Franklin’s score when he took Ethan Greene’s pass and scored from close range.
Brayan Morales put the Owls ahead for good five minutes later when his turnaround shot from 10 yards out found the net.
Daniel Hartman added a third Seymour goal four minutes before the half when he settled the ball just inside the 18 box and blasted a shot that bounced off of Franklin keeper Dylan Bastin’s hands and into the net.
Hartman finished off the scoring six minutes into the second half on a hustle play that epitomized Seymour’s day.
Moore had attempted a direct kick from nearly 30 yards out that Bastin was able to stop, but the ball bounced out of the keeper’s hands, and Hartman was there to scoop up the ball, beat Bastin and score it easily.
“We don’t give up on plays, and you definitely saw that on that play,” Dennis said. “That was a nice play.”
Overall, Seymour had eight corner kick opportunities to Franklin’s five and was whistled for nine fouls to 10 by the Grizzly Cubs.
Bastin stopped two shots in goal for Franklin, while replacement Xavier Randolph had seven saves.
Seymour returns home Thursday to take on Hoosier Hills Conference rival New Albany.