New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys soccer team posted its second straight shutout victory Saturday morning, blanking Connersville 2-0. The Dragons honored seniors Blake Bobrow, Cody Crawmer, Chase Martin and Brandan Tanksley during the contest. Bobrow recorded his fifth clean sheet of the season. He was rarely tested - his best save came in the 38th minute, when Connersville got an open look in the box from the left side. A shot destined for the top shelf was parried over the bar by Bobrow. The Dragons then cleared the ensuing corner. The Dragons pushed early, with Crawmer getting a 17th-minute chance after Tanskley fed him a far-post cross. Crawmer headed it on frame but it was stopped by the Connersville keeper. Eight minutes later, Elliott Canova took a run into the box and forced a diving save. Tristan Kean followed the shot, but his rebound glanced off the crossbar. The Dragons broke through in the 30th minute. Tanksley's corner came to Cohen Wintin. His shot was blocked, but the rebound caromed to Canova, who buried a far-post hit to give the Dragons a 1-0 lead. The Dragons extended the lead in the 46th minute, again with Wintin and Canova connecting for the coal, again off a corner kick. Wintin won a ball and laid it off to Canova, who hammered it into the net from the top of the box for his 13th goal of the season. That provided the Dragons the offense they needed. They saw out the clean sheet with a strong defensive performance throughout the second half. The Dragons improve to 8-6 on the season. They next play Tuesday at home against Franklin, with a 5:30 p.m. JV kickoff, followed by a 7 p.m. varsity contest. The two squads' JV teams played to a 1-1 draw. Joey Hicks scored the Dragons' goal off Eli Martin's assist.