Despite Conklin’s quick goal to start 2nd half, Argos falls to Culver Academy

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

ARGOS — The Argos girls soccer team did not score with the frequency that it had in its previous five games against visiting Culver Academy at Eugene Snyder Field Tuesday, but the speed at which it scored right after halftime was noteworthy.

Elaina Conklin scored off an Hayna Willis assist just 13 seconds into the second half to cut into Culver Academy’s lead, but the Lady Eagles scored an insurance goal with 19:01 left and went on to win 3-1.

Culver Academy improved to 5-2-4. Argos dropped to 4-10-1.

Argos had scored 24 goals in its previous five games, a span in which it went 4-1.

“Culver always does an exceptional job,” Argos coach Ty Adley said. “The Academy, they are always a strong, physical team, and it’s a great benchmark game for us as we go into sectionals every year towards the very end of the season. A lot of good camaraderie and those sorts of things, especially being as close as we are. So that’s one of the biggest things for us is having that good, strong competition there at the end right before we begin recovering and getting ready for sectionals and everything else, so just the physicality and making sure we’re at the right tempo.”

Culver Academy’s first goal came with 27:18 left in the half on a hit-ahead pass from Mimi Smith to Charlotte Tharin, who took the pass in stride and beat Argos freshman goalkeeper Peytyn Willis one-on-one.

The Lady Eagles’ other two goals came on rebounds.

Culver Academy made it 2-0 when defender Taylor Wagoner sent a long volley up to Valentina Madrazo Backhoff, who split Argos defenders Avarie Hines and Madison Reynolds with a burst of speed up the right flank.

Willis stopped her shot, but freshman Sadie Gaff was there to knock the rebound into the empty net.

After the Argos goal early in the second half, Chelsea Feick tucked home a rebound inside the left post after Willis made a sprawling save on Tharin coming in from the right.

“A lot of it comes with experience,” Adley said. “She’s been phenomenal for us this year, so I’m very proud of her for that. There was just some unfortunate deflections and bounces that may have gone a few degrees the wrong direction and happens to get to the feet of the other team unfortunately. And the Academy is going to make sure they take care of business and play clean-up very, very well. So I can’t fault them for that. It’s just something that comes with time, and I have no doubt she’ll be picking up those aspects and continuing to push forward.”

Adley said the offense made further progress, even if it was not as productive as it was in previous wins over Muncie Central and Morgan Township.

The second half began with Conklin sending a pass back to Hayna Willis, who then dropped a long pass right on the foot of Conklin on a unique give-and-go play. She dribbled in and beat Culver Academy goalkeeper Meaghan Rafferty to her right.

“It wasn’t a play we practice,” Adley said. “Just their sheer will, and I think we had some good conversations at halftime to get the girls amped up and excited going back into it and definitely taking advantage of possibly the Academy on their heels.”

Argos finishes the regular season with a road game against Bethany Christian Saturday. They open the postseason with a Class 1A, Sectional 36 quarterfinal against Rochester at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Argos.

Adley is a Rochester grad while Rochester coach Chantal Rensberger is an Argos grad.

“I don’t know enough about them,” Adley said. “Chantal always does an exceptional job with their team. … I have heard a lot of good things about their goalkeeper (Alexandria Cortes-Gustafson). She’s done exceptionally well this season, so I’m excited to see them. Should be a great game. I know we’ve got some high school grad competition between the two. It’s always a good, fun game. Hat always goes off to Chantal and all the work she puts in with those girls and does a great job with the program.”