Kouts to meet Boone Grove in boys soccer sectional championship

BOONE GROVE | Thanks to Jordan Greavu, Kouts boys soccer team avoided a case of déjà vu.

Last week, the Mustangs and Morgan Township went into extra time with the Cherokees pulling out a shootout victory.

In Wednesday's semifinals of the Class A Boone Grove Sectional, both teams went past 80 minutes again. This time, Greavu's goal gave the Kouts a 1-- victory.

Greavu scored off a corner kick two minutes into the first overtime period. He kicked from the left corner. The ball sailed over keeper Cody Tratebas's head and landed in the inside right corner.

"I've taken practice corner kicks in practice many times, and I just decided to give it a try," Greavu said. "(Coach Robert Dowhen) said not to do it, but I was like 'I feel it'. I took the kick. Once it was off my foot, I knew it was in."

The Mustangs meet the host Wolves in Saturday's noon championship.

"When Kouts is up against the wall, they do two things: die down or play harder than they have all season," Dowhen said. That's what they did today, playing harder than they have all season."

Kouts (12-4-1) had three shots on goal in the first half, and their defense didn't allow the Cherokees to get a shot on goal until the second half.

Morgan Township (8-7-3) put four shots on goal in the second half, but all were stopped by Mustangs keeper Jon Frame.

Kouts had a chance to win with less than four minutes left in regulation. Greavu was given a penalty kick, but his shot went right into Tratebas's arms. A minute later, the Cherokees had an opportunity to score as well, but Kyle Winquist's shot was saved by Frame.

Morgan Township was outshot 9-4, while Tratebas had eight saves.

"I thought they played hard," Morgan Township coach Stefen Hutchins said. "It was a physical game, and it could have gone either way. Kouts got a good goal, and stuff like that happens.

"I can't say enough of my team; they worked hard."

Kouts now has a chance to win the program's first title. The Mustangs picked up the program's first win against the Wolves on Sept. 12 with a 3-2 victory.

"Boone Grove is an incredibly talented team, but we know some of their weaknesses," Dowhen said. "They also know some of ours.

"Our job will be to play fast, be aggressive and stay focused."

Greavu feels confident about Saturday's championship.

"We'll take all the intensity and momentum from this game -- all the power from (Wedneday) and bring it right back," he said. "We beat Boone (once), and we can do it again."