By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – After getting scorched during the last three matches, New Albany got a little defensive. Ok, a lot defensive. And it worked perfectly against Bedford North Lawrence in the Hoosier Hills Conference opener.
The Bulldogs not only figured out their issues on one end, they exploded for three second-half goals on the other during a tough 3-0 conquest of the Stars on Thursday night. Finn Railey scored twice and goalie Zach Fleming made some tough leaping saves as New Albany (3-3 overall, 1-0 in the league) reversed its recent trend.
During the last three contests, New Albany had surrendered a whopping 14 goals. So the early approach against BNL was a totally defensive posture. After intermission, that changed. And the results were immediate.
“We were trying to be very defensive early on,” NA coach Josh Dickman said. “We needed that scoring to stop. Once we felt we had it under control defensively, we stepped up in the attack.”
The Bulldogs struck early in the second half when Ollie Dickman guided home a rebound off a deflection at 37:27. Railey broke through with 20:13 left when he made a hustling long run from the midfield down the right side, launching a shot from a difficult angle on the wing that found the far left corner of the goal.
Railey added the final goal off a penalty kick at 7:13.
“In the first half our possession wasn’t great,” BNL coach Ryan Otis said. “We weren’t able to hold the ball and find feet with passes. In the second half they took advantage of that, got some turnovers and were able to convert. We kept it going as hard as we could, but they converted.”
BNL (2-3-1, 0-1 in the league) had chances with an 8-7 shot advantage. But Fleming was in denial mode in the net.
“They have some guys that are talented, some guys that are dangerous,” Dickman said. “So we had to cut that supply off.”
“After they scored, they played freer and played with confidence,” Otis said. “We played them very well. I’m proud of how the kids played the whole game. They fought the whole time, had that intensity.”
BNL will visit Columbus East on Tuesday.
