New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys soccer team earned a spot in the sectional championship game with a 4-1 victory over Connersville Wednesday. The Dragons (9-8) will face East Central (15-1-1) at 2 p.m. Saturday in the title game of the 3A New Palestine sectional. The Dragons dominated possession and chances in the contest. Cole Christopher and Elliott Canova both had early chances from point-blank range that were stopped by the Spartans' goalkeeper. It didn't take long for the Dragons to break through. In the 17th minute, Elliott Canova laid off a ball for Andon Colclazier in a buildup. Colclazier ripped a shot into the left-side netting from 20 yards out to give the Dragons the lead. Three minutes later, Cohen Wintin fed the ball ahead to Canova, who dribbled through the box and beat the keeper far post to double the lead. The lead stayed 2-0 through the first half. Colclazier nearly had a brace, as he grazed the goalpost from distance in the 37th minute. The Dragons started the second half on the front foot. Wintin forced a diving save after a steal and a shot from 10 yards out in the 43rd minute. They broke through two minutes later, as Cole Christopher played a through ball to Wintin, who finished to put the Dragons up 3-0. In the 47th minute, Christopher fed Paxton Holmes with a backheel that Holmes took and buried far-post to extend the lead further. The Dragons had more chances to extend the lead - Canova fed the ball across the goalmouth to Wintin, whose shot from in tight was blocked and the follow went high in the 60th minute. In the 75th minute, Aaron Smith's header from the center of the box forced a diving save. Connersville's goal came in the 65th minute, but the Spartans didn't threaten to close the lead any further.