Controversial reversal halts Cards’ comeback against Davenport North

Christian Lawson’s goal from the half line forced overtime against Davenport North on Friday night. Until it didn’t.

Lawson’s apparent goal was called good originally by the officials but waived off eventually and the controversial call halted a comeback by Newton’s boys soccer team and ignited chaos on the sidelines and in the stands.

“They called it good and I was getting the team ready for overtime,” Newton boys head soccer coach Zach Jensen said. “Then, their coaching staff complained and the refs changed the call. The ball hit the net and then the clock hit zero from our vantage point.”

The reversed goal-no goal switch meant the Cardinals lost 3-2 and dropped their second straight match. Instead of inching closer to another 10-win season.

The call by the officials led to the ejection of Newton assistant soccer coach Brett Lundberg and forced Newton Activities Director Ryan Rump to escort the officials out of the stadium and he eventually walked them to their cars.

“It was chaos,” Jensen said. “I had already gotten a yellow card in the game. I’m disappointed for sure in how that game ended. I’m not sure how you change the call in that situation. But, we did dig ourselves way too big of a hole to climb out of. We can’t do that. Soccer is a cruel sport sometimes.”

Davenport North (7-3) led 3-0 in the match and held a 3-1 lead at halftime.

The Cardinals got a goal from Hunter Kennedy as he converted a shot attempt from 25 yards out with three minutes to play in the half.

Conner McPartlin’s goal with 14 minutes left to play drew the Cardinals (8-5) within 3-2. That goal was assisted by Derek Beiner, who ran in the Drake Relays earlier in the day.

That was the only goal of the second half until Newton’s near goal in the final seconds.

“We acted like we never played soccer before in the first half,” Jensen said. “We finally got our act together and decided to play our game.”

Newton outplayed Davenport North in all statistics except the score. The Cardinals took 34 shots and 19 shots on goal while holding their visitors to 11 shots and seven shots on goal.

Caleb Lawson made five saves in goal for Newton. Davenport North’s Ian Padron collected nine saves.