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Calling it the most complete game of soccer played by his team, Newton High head coach Zach Jensen was pleased with how the Cardinals responded to a 1-0 halftime deficit.
“It was a very intense and physical game with the teams battling, fighting for every ball all the time,” Jensen said of Newton’s 3-1 victory at home Tuesday against Grinnell’s Tigers in Little Hawkeye Conference play. “I told them we had to come out and match the intensity and physical play of Grinnell.”
The come-from-behind win by the Cardinals handed the Tigers their first loss of the season. Newton is 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the LHC. Grinnell goes to 1-1 in LHC action and 3-1 overall.
Jensen said the Cardinals played well in the first half. They played with confidence and had plenty of opportunities to plant the ball in the Tiger goal, he said.
“We just didn’t get the ball in there. We made one mistake and it cost us a goal in the first half. Our guys put the pressure on Grinnell throughout the first half,” Jensen said.
That mistake by the Cardinals came with 3:43 remaining in the first 40 minutes of play. Each team had mounted attacks but no scoring came off those.
Grinnell Palmer Schulte 60-yard kick proved to be a problem. The ball soared over the Newton defenders and goalkeeper Benny Cheng came out to field the ball on the bounce.
The ball bounced over Cheng, who leaped up to try to knock it down, and bounced into the open net.
“Benny put that goal behind him and came out and played so well in the second half. Grinnell challenged us on a few breakaways, but Benny got big and made Grinnell make mistakes on the attacks,” Jensen said.
Cheng had only one save in the game against shots on goal. Jensen said the play of the Cardinal defenders was tremendous throughout the game. Playing on defense in front of Cheng on Tuesday were Dalton Pauley, Tyler Dafflitto, Jacob Knoll, Jacob Murphy and Blayden Rhone.
Newton tied the game on a goal by Austin Johansen on a pass by Matthew Yeager at the 26:48 mark of the second half. The Cardinals took the lead with 13:39 left in the game.
“I tell our guys to keep playing the ball no matter what. The ball went to the Grinnell goalkeeper, who kicked it right back at Taylor Greiner. The ball went off Taylor and into the net,” Jensen said. “Austin keeps impressing us with his play and willingness to put his body on the line to score.”
The Cardinals netted an insurance goal with 35.9 seconds on the game clock. Murphy put a pass in the right position for Gavin Aalbers to deliver the ball into the net.
“We just played soccer tonight, in terms of doing the small things well which leads to control of the pace and game,” Jensen said.
Newton had 13 shots on goal in the game. It had two corner kicks and 12 free kicks.
In the junior varsity game, Newton and Grinnell ended up in a 1-1 tie. Newton’s goal came in the first half by Parker Aalbers on an assist by Derek Lanser.
Newton’s junior varsity is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. match on Thursday at North Polk. The NHS freshman boys are hosting a tournament starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The Cardinal boys host Knoxville in non-conference action Monday at H.A.Lynn Stadium. The junior varsity game is at 5:30 p.m. followed by the varsity at 7 p.m.
Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535
or jsheets@newtondailynews.com