Bison soccer opens amid heat for 2021 fall action

Benton Central soccer kicked off for the fall of 2021, as both the Bison boys and the Lady Bison got matters cranking and off this past, steamy week. For both Green and Gold boomer clubs, however, this late-August play started on rough notes.

The Bison under Head Coach James Warf (plus assistant coaches Nick Tabert, 2021 BC graduate/ forward Jake Johnston, Kayla Lester, and recent graduate/goalkeeper Jace Brunton – now at Purdue University) deadlocked with Hoosier Conference rival Twin Lakes’ Indians, 4-4, on Tuesday (Aug. 17) up at the Monticello field; 2 days later, the first home contest (Thursday, the 19th) brought the Lafayette Jeff Bronchos to Bison country, but BC lost (6-0) to the invading Red and Black.

The Herd then traveled down to Lebanon (of the Sagamore Conf.) for a Saturday (of the 21st) 4-way match: the Bison first tangled with the hosting Tigers and fell, 7-3, after game effort. A familiar foe of the Hoosier Conf., Lafayette Central Catholic, was the next opponent for the Bison, as the Knights ambushed BC by a 10-1 tally.

Next up for BC’s gritty Herd guys is an road trek east ward to Lafayette’s Faith Christian’s Eagles’ “aerie” on Tue., Aug. 24, followed by a home match on Thur. (the 26th ) with former league opponent Sheridan’s Blackhawks (now affiliated with the Hoosier Heartland Conf.). The Bison guys don’t play again until the last day of the month – Aug. 31 – up in Carroll County versus ex-Hoosier Conference long-timer Delphi’s Oracles. Then, the Rossville Hornets buzz into the Benton Central grounds on Thur., Sept. 2; BC’s league tournament (sites yet undetermined, but West Lafayette and Western tagged as the top dogs) begin on Labor Day (Sept. 6) and runs through Sat. of the 11th (“9/11” Day).

The Lady Bison got in their initial match on this past Sat. (the 21st) over at Faith Christian and gave the strong Lady Eagles a bout, prior to crashing by a 5-2 count.

Coming up on the BC girls’ agenda are an away clash at Lafayette Jeff (Thur., Aug. 26) with the Lady Bronchos, followed by their first home battle with Crawfordsville’s Lady Athenians on Sat., the 28th, 10 a.m. – at the BC field. The Bison gals play over at Rossville on Thur, Sept.- -and don’t have another contest until after Labor Day: Tue., the 7th, back home at Benton Central’s turf. (A Twin Lakes league match for the Lady Bison will be made up later – and Delphi doesn’t apparently have enough girls for a team). The Hoosier Conference battle for honors starts the week of Sept. 20, as Laf. Central Catholic’s 1A defending state champs are expected to the primary obstacle for any challengers.

A rock-crusher week for the Bison guys

Benton Central’s guys earned a hard-fought 7-4-2 record (and graduated 6 seniors) for the 2020 season; this year is beginning on a tough note, but so much remains to be competed over.

The Twin Lakes tussle (Tue., Aug. 17) saw junior midfielder R.J. Martinez score a deuce of goals, alongside solo net-plungers from senior midfielder Daniel Freeland and freshman middie/forward Kolton Watt (his first goal in his initial varsity contest). An unexpected injury barrier popped up when sophomore goalie Brylan Hedden broke his hand 3 days into pre-season practice (but he’ll return, mid-season), yet both sr. defender Zack Benner and frosh net-guardian Eli Trahan have shifted into the laces-defending stature. Versus the Red and White of TL, Eli hauled in 11 defensive saves. Freeland made 2 offensive assists, while a single assist came from Martinez. Benton Central amassed 18 shots on goals (SOG), in a conference clash that was knotted, 2-2 at the half, and the same (4-even) for the finale.

Two days later, Thur. (the 19th) it was back here in Benton County – but always-formidable Lafayette Jeff came loaded for bison. Behind only 1-0 after the first period, the Green and Gold were flooded by 5 Broncho scores in the #2 frame for this 6-0 Jeff runaway. Defense proved the factor, as BC got a single SOG, against Benner’s guarding the nets for 9 saves in opposition to the Red and Black from the North Central Conference.

And another 48-hours in the future, the Bison first tangled (Sat., the 21st) with Lebanon down in this Boone Co.-centered 4-way event; the Tigers pulled away from a narrow, 2-1 halftime margin to pile up a 5-2 edge in the 2nd period and take the match by a 7-3 tally.

R.J. once more collected 2 net-bulging ringers, as Freeland gathered in a solo twine-planter (plus 1 ast.) and sr. forward/middie Keane Gerlach had 2 assists. Zack Benner this time yanked the ball in for 10 saves against the attacking Old Gold and Black of Lebanon.

The 2 other 11-boy squads were LCC and Indianapolis’ Park Tudor. The Bison drew the Knights for the consolation match, and got their 1 score in the first period from soph forward/ middie Cayden Hardebeck. BC managed 6 SOG versus the Navy and White of CC; however, the Knights were fronted by a “double hat trick” (6 goals – 3 for each hat trick: 3 tallies) from sr. Christian Gallo. Benner had 6 saves off Central Catholic, who demonstrated that they might have the moxie to be in the midst of the league’s run for the honors. Daniel, Keane, and R.J. are the tricaptains for the 2021 Bison.

A scorcher in Faith Christian’s new playing paddock

It took a little searching to actually locate the new playing field for the high-school gang, since Faith Christian on this past Sat. morning of Aug. 21) was swamped with ballnet planting youngsters in the grounds off East State Road 26. Northeast where the older crowd was drifting took you down to this new field, with a larger scoreboard and time clock yet to come.

Junior forward/midfielder Amsley Harrell got the first Lady Bison score for 2021 in the 1st period, with FC holding a slim, 2-1 lead into the 2nd period. With memories still fresh of another star for the Maroon and Gold a few years back, the Lady Eagles’ jr. middie Alli Holder managed a “hat trick plus one” (4 net-rippers) versus BC, with the other FC score coming from frosh Grace Robinson.

The second Green and Gold ladies’ score emerged in the second frame: sr. forward/ striker Tressa Senesac banged the ball into the laces – but this was before Holder got her 4th ringer (at 5:30 to play) for the final, 5-2 result to favor Faith Christian.

Benton Central booted 7 SOG, as Lady Bison jr. goalie Madison Rodriguez gathered in 16 saves. The Lady Bison went 9-5-2 (6 graduates as well) last season, and are working to repeat 2020’s success.

It was a nerve-peeler of a week’s action, but both BC teams were in their fighting away. Good luck this week and into Sept. for both Green and Gold soccer clubs. Go, BC!