New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys soccer team broke through late in the first half and added two goals in the latter stages of the second half Thursday to beat host Greenfield-Central 3-0 and remain in the Hoosier Heritage Conference lead. The Dragons improved to 7-5 overall and 5-0 in the HHC with the victory. Elliott Canova drew a foul in the box and converted the ensuing penalty in the 36th minute to get the Dragons on the board. It turned out to be the game-winner as Jake Wells had the clean sheet in goal. The Dragons had an early chance when Cohen Wintin rang the crossbar in the 13th minute. A handful of other chances were stopped as the Dragons spent much of the half in front of the Cougars' goal. Wintin's wasn't the only crossbar hit in the first half, as Andon Colclazier also grazed the bar in the final two minutes. In the second half, the Dragons had a handful of early chances and nearly extended the lead when Canova dribbled the goal line and set Paxton Holmes up at the 6 for a one-touch rocket that missed just wide. A minute later, the Dragons broke through. Canova brought down a long ball along the goal line. He fired a hard shot at the G-C keeper which was stopped, but spilled off his hands. It fell into the box, the Dragons regained possesion and it deflected to Holmes for the finish in the 66th minute. In the 73rd minute, the Dragons added another. Holmes whipped a cross in for Cole Christopher, who headed the ball several feet in the air. It arced over the G-C goalkeeper on its way down and landed in the net. Wintin nearly made it 4-0 in the 78th minute, with a blast from inside the box that forced a one-handed save. The Dragons are next in action Saturday at Delta, with an 11 a.m. varsity kick.