Mid-Prairie and IMS play to a draw

Neighboring schools IMS and Mid-Prairie played to a 1-1 tie in a non-conference boys? soccer match in Wellman on Thursday evening.

No. 13 Mid-Prairie (7-2-2) scored first when junior Austin Errthum crossed a ball into the box where junior Wyatt Cady knocked the ball into the goal to put the Golden Hawks up 1-0.

After that, the IMS back line of Justin Boller, Cody Miller, Jameson Lammer and Kirby Shetler shut down the Golden Hawks for the rest of the match. Forwards Reggie Hostetler and Dillon Bender, along with midfielders Peyton Thompson, Nicholas Yoder and Enrique Sanchez, created several good scoring chances, but couldn?t get anything into the net.

Seventh-ranked IMS continued to push for the tying goal as the second half opened. Fifteen minutes into the half, goalie Joel Shetler gathered in a ball and threw to midfield, where Hostetler took the ball and dribbled forward before launching a shot from about 40 yards out. The ball sailed over the head of Mid-Prairie goalkeeper Chase Murray to tie the score.

Goals often provide a boost of energy, and Hostetler?s shot did just that. Minutes later, Thompson took a shot from the far right side, which hit the bottom of the crossbar and ricocheted to the ground. However, it did not cross the goal line, and play continued. As the closing minutes ticked off the clock, both teams worked hard to try to score the winning goal, but stingy defensive play from both sides made it difficult.

IMS finishes the regular season with a record of 13-6-1 and will face Mid-Prairie again tonight in a Class 1A substate semifinal at 6:30 p.m.