Intra-city rivalry match finishes with no goals scored

Two weeks later and the ball has yet to find the back of the net.

After a scoreless first half of high school boys’ soccer action on Sept. 4, Mitchell High School and Mitchell Christian/Mount Vernon completed their weather-delayed intra-city rivalry game with a scoreless tie Tuesday at the Pepsi Cola Soccer Complex in Mitchell.

The draw proved to be a moral victory for Mitchell Christian/Mount Vernon, after losing 2-1 in the final minute of the matchup a season ago.

“Mitchell’s an incredible team and I knew it was going to be intense,” Mitchell Christian/Mount Vernon head coach Bob Lemon said. “Last year they got us so late and I was looking at the clock thinking not again.

“That was really a nice way to end this game.”

The Kernels coach was not as happy with the outcome.

After the game, Mitchell High School coach Ryan Perry called for an unscheduled practice for the Kernels after being unable to score in the final half of action.

“We kept knocking at the door, but we just couldn’t get the ball in the net,” Perry said.

“They played not to give up anything and they didn’t.”

For the game, Mitchell High School outshot Mitchell Christian/Mount Vernon 27-6, including 12 shots for the Kernels on Tuesday compared to four for Mitchell Christian/Mount Vernon.

“They put a lot of pressure on us and our guys really responded,” Lemon said. “There was some absolute chaos in the box at times and the guys were just sacrificing everything and giving everything they had.”

Aaron Lemon, a second-team all-state player from last season, came up big for Mitchell Christian/Mount Vernon in net. The goalie stopped all 27 shots from the Kernels to keep his team from taking a loss.

“It was a crazy game and it was good to not take a loss,” he said. “We both improved from the first half two weeks ago and it was fun to be a part of.”

Despite only facing four shots on Tuesday, the Kernels’ goalie Cole Carlson came up big on the other end of the field.

“He saved us from having a worse outcome than we had,” Perry said. “Everybody on our side owes him a thank you.”

Mitchell High School (1-8-1) finishes its season Tuesday against Groton Area in Mitchell, while Mitchell Christian/Mount Vernon (2-6-2) ends its regular season against Freeman Academy Friday in Mitchell.

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