After losing to Columbus North 2-0 in last year’s sectional final, No. 14 Center Grove opened this year facing the same Bulldog team that ended their last season.

Junior Kayli Farmer said the team got an extra push from their motivation from the loss.

“All year we’ve been motivated after losing the sectionals last year. We were ready for this game this year,” Farmer said. “Honestly we knew who we were dealing with, we just kinda came to show out.”

The first 25 minutes were a stalemate with both teams exchanging shots on goals and some early penalties. No. 4 Columbus North took a 1-0 lead when Emily Ellis scored following a Center Grove foul. Columbus North would tack on another goal in the first half and take a 2-0 lead into the locker room.

Senior Riley Williams knew the defense had to create more possessions for the offense in the second half if Center Grove wanted to get back in the game. 

“During halftime we got really hyped up because we were down,” Williams said. “We knew we couldn’t let them score so we had to get the ball up every time we got a chance.”

In the second half, Emily Karr scored within three minutes of the half to make it 2-1. Two saves, including a diving save by goalkeeper Kylie Crum, allowed the Trojans to continue to build momentum.

“After the first goal, we got a lot of our energy aiming for that comeback, and we just all came together,” Karr said. 

As the clock continued to count down, Center Grove’s offense continued to press, trying to tie the game in the final minutes. With 30 seconds left, a cross from senior Lexi Glover put the ball at Karr’s feet. Karr capitalized, scoring with 18 seconds left on the clock.

“I just wanted to be there for my team. I didn’t want to lose it for my team, so I found that pocket in the defense and in the goal,” Karr said.

Although the Trojans didn’t come back home with the win, tying Columbus North 2-2, Coach Mike Bishop was happy with the team’s comeback.

“The win is huge,” Bishop said. “We come into the first week and Monday we have [No. 4] Columbus North then Wednesday we have [No. 11]  Bloomington so either it’s a sectional tournament game or a regional tournament game, so to start off 0-2 makes it rea l hard. To come out here in this awesome place, with their crowd and everything else and a team that’s as good as they are, it’s really a win for us.”