North Central Taking Command

GSL soccer

The North Central High boys soccer team had to give up a player to shut down a player Wednesday night.

Indians senior defender Tim O’Halloran spent most of his team’s Greater Spokane League game at University marking Titans star Grant Falco.

He did a stellar job, though Falco scored both U-Hi goals in NC’s 4-2 win.

“It was worth it sacrificing one of our players because he is such a threat,” Indians senior Owen Turnbull said.

Falco, who has a league-leading 24 goals and is one short of tying the school record, scored his first on a penalty kick at the 64-minute mark, then beat two defenders to knock one in at 75 minutes.

But most of the night, the Titans couldn’t get the ball to Falco. The first-place Indians (10-1-1 overall, 5-1 GSL) shut down U-Hi’s midfield with keen passing and hustle.

Titans coach Brandon Deyarmin said he knew the game would be won in the midfield and that NC would be his team’s toughest opponent of the season so far.

“They come out strong, aggressive and scrappy,” Deyarmin said. “They play well together and play well in the air and have guys there to finish.”

Turnbull scored the Indians’ first goal at 25 minutes when he booted a shot into the bottom right corner of the net from 25 yards out. U-Hi goalie Josh Sutherland got a hand on the ball but couldn’t deflect it.

NC junior midfielder Dustin Allbery made impressive runs all game and finished with a goal and two assists. Turnbull and Allbery each have eight goals for the team lead.

Allbery assisted on goals by Aaron Fielder and Bobby Johnson at 40 and 45 minutes, then scored with 2 minutes left in the game.

U-Hi (7-3-1, 3-3), which was outshot 24-10, played without senior sweeper Ben Tarbutton, who was nursing a shoulder injury.

NC sweeper Bryce Harrison left with a sprained right ankle just before halftime but said the injury wasn’t serious.

The Indians, who defeated Ferris 3-1 on Monday, are done with most of their toughest games.

“This is the week we knew if we beat Ferris and U-Hi we would have a good chance of winning the GSL championship,” Turnbull said.

In other games, Aaron Crary scored twice as visiting Ferris defeated Rogers 5-0.

The second-place Saxons (8-3-1, 4-2) outshot the Pirates (3-9, 0-6) 26-5.

Donnie Owen Schafer scored off a Chris McKenna corner kick at 78 minutes as visiting Shadle Park upset Central Valley 1-0.

Brandon Kyle made five saves for the Highlanders (7-2-2, 4-2) and the Bears (7-3-1, 4-2) held a 12-8 edge on shots.

At Hart Field, Bobby LaBelle scored three goals in the second half as Mt. Spokane defeated Lewis and Clark 6-5.

LaBelle, the league’s second-leading scorer with 14 goals, scored at 54, 58 and 65 minutes for the Wildcats (6-5, 4-2).

Brennan Floyd had three goals for the Tigers (6-5, 2-4), who outshot Mt. Spokane 14-9.

Gonzaga Prep freshman John Buller scored the game-winner from 18 yards with 1:40 left as the Bullpups (4-7, 2-4) defeated Mead (3-6-1, 2-4) 3-2 at Mead Middle School. It was Buller’s first goal of the season.

All five goals were scored in the second half. Casey Doggett had both Mead goals.