FLOYDS KNOBS — The New Albany boys’ soccer team’s surprising run through the IHSAA state tournament continued in dramatic fashion on Monday at Floyd Central High School.

Junior Justin Oliver kicked a match-clinching penalty kick to give the Bulldogs their second regional championship ever, beating Hoosier Hills Conference rival Seymour 1-0. New Albany won the penalty-kick shootout, 4-2.

After 80 minutes of regulation play and two seven-minute overtime periods, the Bulldogs and the Owls went to a shootout.

New Albany senior Nathan Blair led off the shootout by having his PK attempt deflected by Seymour goalkeeper Austin Edington. But Edington was called for a penalty-area infraction, giving Blair a second attempt. Blair took advantage of the rekick, connecting on a goal in the left-corner of the goal.

Seymour’s first PK attempt by Aaron Brown hit off the crossbar, maintaining New Albany’s 1-0 lead. Senior Jonah Bishop put the Bulldogs (9-10-1) up to 2-0 in the shootout by kicking the ball into upper right corner of the goal.

The Owls (14-5) got on the board on their next PK. Senior Devon Moore hit the crossbar, but the ball deflected into the net to cut the Seymour deficit to 2-1.

The Bulldogs’ advantage grew to 3-1 when sophomore Nick Blackwell’s boot tipped off the hands of Edington and landed in the right side of the goal. Seymour freshman Andrew Baliff responded with a successful PK in the left side of the net.

Senior Steven Dobson made New Albany’s lone miss of the shootout, missing wide left. Once he misfired, Dobson covered his hands in dismay.

But the Owls failed to take advantage of Dobson’s misfortune. Junior Daniel Koester fired a PK to the right side, but Bulldog goalkeeper Daniel Hartman stopped the shot, keeping the New Albany lead at 3-2.

Oliver then sealed the regional title, kicking the ball in the left corner past Edington. Once the kick reached the goal, the New Albany bench and its fans ran onto the field for a hugh celebration.

The Owls had their chances to crack the scoring column in the first half. They took 11 shots on goal and made two corner kicks.

Their best opportunity to hit the back of the net was around the 17-minute mark. Koester attempted an off-balance shot on goal from 10 yards out. But Hartman dove to his right and halted the shot on the edge of the goalpost.

Some of Seymour’s shots on goal came from between 20 to 30 yards out. But Hartman and the New Albany defense did a great job of swatting shots away.

The Bulldogs’ first shot on goal of the half came at the 33:33 mark. Junior Sean O’Connor blasted a high-arcing shot from 20 yards, but Edington caught the ball for his first save. Then with 7:25 remaining in the first, freshman Andrew Hirsch had a close-in shot, but Edington stopped it for another save.

The stalemate continued in the second half.

Early in the half, Hartman made two saves on back-to-back shots on goal by Koester and Moore. At the 17-minute mark, Moore tried to hit header off a Koester corner kick, but the shot went left of the goal.

The Bulldogs’ best chance to score in the half came with about 13:45 left. Bishop attempted a shot on goal on a breakaway from 10 yards out, but it went left. Immediately after his misfire, Bishop kneeled on the ground with his hands behind his head in disgust.

Seymour had one final chance to score. With 1:43 left in regulation, senior defenseman Michael Chrisman got a red card, resulting in his ejection. After a free kick by Brown, Moore received the ball on the right side of the goal, but missed the shot wide left.

Seymour attempted the only shot on goal in the two seven-minute overtime periods. The Owls’ Blake Dye tried a 35-yard boot, but it went over the goal.

Seymour outshot New Albany on goal, 19-4. Hartman wound up with eight saves, while Edington had three.

It was the fourth time during the postseason that the Bulldogs avenged a regular-season loss. Seymour defeated New Albany earlier in the year, 6-0.



FLOYD CENTRAL REGIONAL

CHAMPIONSHIP

New Albany 1, Seymour 0, New Albany won on penalty kicks, 4-2