Oakwood/Salt Fork soccer team loses to BCC in Sectional Semifinals

By Fred Kroner

The Oakwood/Salt Fork soccer team was eliminated from postseason play on Friday (Oct. 20) in the Class 1A sectional semifinals with a 3-1 loss to Bloomington Central Catholic.

BCC hit the lone first-half goal and expanded its lead to 2-0 before Macen Phillips netted the only goal the Comets would score.

Oakwood/Salt Fork goalkeeper Jakob Rupp posted a season-high 12 saves.

BCC held a 25-7 edge on total shots.

The Comets finish the season with a 17-8-1 overall record and a repeat title in the Vermilion Valley Conference.

Six squad members scored at least five goals for the season, led by a school-record season total of 38 by Ethan Merritt.

Other team leaders were Brody Taflinger (14 goals), Phillips (nine goals), Jacob Pricer (nine goals), Ty Smoot (seven goals) and Thomas Wells (six goals).

Merritt totaled a team-best eight hat tricks.

Four Comets registered at least five assists, led by Phillips’ school-record single-season total of 29.

Following him were Taflinger (22 assists), Wells (seven assists) and Smoot (six assists).

Rupp finished the season with 56 saves.

Oakwood/Salt Fork shut out 12 opponents and outscored its opponents by a cumulative 103-36 margin.