New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision Thursday at home to Franklin Central. The Dragons got off to a strong start, as Cohen Wintin created a chance in the first 30 seconds with a 50/50 ball on the FC keeper, but it was smothered. Elliott Canova missed just wide on a far-post effort in the eighth minute. After Jake Wells made a diving save in the 18th minute, FC scored in the 20th minute off a corner kick, when the ball was sent into the mixer and found a Flashes foot in traffic. The Dragons quickly responded. Canova stole an outlet pass, bounded the ball past two Flashes defenders and then punched it into the net to tie the game. From there, chances were few. Wells made a save on a dangerous free kick in the closing minutes of the first half and another diving save three minutes into the second to keep it 1-1. In the 51st minute, the Flashes scored with a long shot off a counterattack to take a 2-1 lead. FC went into a defnsive shell from there. Wintin won a ball along the end line and played one in that deflected off an FC defender goalward, but into the arms of the keeper in the 54th minute. Andon Colclazier had a rip from 20 yards out in the 57th minute that was stopped. Canova had a point-blank shot in the 70th minute that was stopped. In the 74th minute, Paxton Holmes won a free kick just outside the box, but the ensuing kick sailed just high. The Dragons fell to 3-4 on the season. They next play Tuesday at New Castle, with a 6 p.m. varsity kickoff. The Dragons dropped the JV game 3-0.