New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys soccer team staged a second-half rally, but a late goal off a corner kick allowed Perry Meridian to pull out a 3-2 victory over the Dragons in Wednesday's Class 3A Greenwood sectional first round match. The Dragons finish their season with a 7-10 record. The Falcons scored quickly, drawing a penalty kick and converting in the fourth minute. The Dragons' best chance came late in the first half, when Noah Diaz De Leon sent a free kick into the netfront, where Liam Day headed it inches wide of the post. In the second half, Perry Meridian extended its lead to 2-0 in the 43rd minute, when a long ball was played over the top. In the footrace, a Falcon player shoved a Dragon defender to the turf en route to the ball, then scored on the ensuing 1-v-0 with the goalkeeper. The Dragons cut the lead to 2-1 in the 47th minute, winning a foul just outside the top of the box. Mark Everett buried the free kick past the wall and just inside the post. In the 71st minute, the Dragons came up with the equalizer. Hector Medrano dribbled up the left side into the box. As he weaved through Falcon defenders, he was tripped, earning a penalty kick. Everett calmly slotted it home to even the game. Perry Meridian answered quickly. Camden Brown made an incredible diving save on a shot from the 18. On the ensuing corner kick, the ball was served near-post into the mixer, where the Dragons were unable to clear and it fell to a Perry Meridian player for shot to the far post. The Dragons pushed for an equalizer, as they carried the play much of the second half, but were unable to find the third goal.