New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys soccer team got a quick start, and then held on in a torrential downpour Thursday, beating host Batesville 4-1. The Dragons got started quickly, peppering the Batesville net with chances. They broke through in the 16th minute when Noah Diaz De Leon found an opening along the 18 and buried a shot to give the Dragons a lead. In the 20th minute, Diaz De Leon sent a ball in that Max Pottle flicked into the far-post netting to double the lead. Shortly thereafter, it began raining - and the rain quickly turned into a torrential downpour, with steady, often heavy, rain the rest of the game. With the rain falling, Liam Day buried a shot out of a scramble to extend the lead to 3-0. Batesville scored in the 39th minute to draw within two. In the second half, both teams generated chances, but the Dragons found an insurance goal when Zach Holmes got to the end of Diaz De Leon's corner kick and scored to make it a 4-1 game. Colt Pratt had a clean sheet in the second half after Camden Brown made a pair of saves in the first half. The Dragons are now 2-8 on the season. They next play Tuesday at home against Southport.