New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys soccer team had an early push, but a late first-half goal was the difference Thursday as the Dragons fell 1-0 at Franklin Central. The Dragons' best chance came early. Shortly after goalkeeper Colt Pratt made a diving stop and the Dragons swept two balls off their own goal line, the Dragons pushed on a counterattack. Liam Day made a move around a defender and crossed the ball to the goalmouth for Hector Medrano, who fired a shot at the cage, but it hit the crossbar, bounced straight down and was cleared off the line by the Flashes. FC broke through in the 40th minute, earning a free kick at the corner of the box. Pratt stopped the initial shot, but the Flashes were able to convert on a mad scramble for the rebound. The second half featured a handful of chances for both teams, but Dragons goalkeeper Camden Brown was solid in stopping the FC forays, but NP was unable to find the equalizer. The Dragons are now 0-5. They next play Saturday at home against Lawrence Central. The Dragons JV dropped a 3-0 decision.