Southwestern grabbed the lead late in the first half and never relinquished it to defeat Hauser, 4-0, Wednesday night in the Class A Southwestern Sectional semifinal round.
With the victory, the 14th-ranked Spartans (9-4-2) advance to face Oldenburg Academy (7-8) in the sectional championship game at 2 p.m. Saturday at Southwestern High School.
Oldenburg Academy ended regulation and two overtime periods Wednesday tied 1-1 with Greenwood Christian. The Twisters finally prevailed 7-6 in penalty kicks to dispatch of the Cougars.
During the regular season, Southwestern routed Hauser, 7-1, on Aug. 21, but the Jets recovered for a 2-1 victory over the Spartans on Sept. 17.
Southwestern knew it had a battle on its hands to get to the sectional championship.
Late in the first half, Aiden Hartsell gave Southwestern the lead 1-0 off a Jordan Jones assist.
It took the Spartans a long time to find goal two but Aiden Hartsell made it happen with a long run and finish just over halfway through the second half.
Jonny Joy and Conner Gooch added on late goals with assists by Conner Jewell and Gareth Stringer and Southwestern could finally celebrate.
Eli Fix was credited with four saves in goal for Southwestern.
In other another boys soccer sectional game Wednesday night:
Mt. Vernon 2, Shelbyville 1
At Mt. Vernon, the Class 3A sectional rematch between the host Marauders and Golden Bears seemed destined for overtime once again.
On Sept. 14 in a Hoosier Heritage Conference match in Fortville, the two teams played to a 2-2 tie which included two scoreless overtime periods. Mt. Vernon prevailed in penalty kicks 10-9.
The Marauders scored first Wednesday night in the sectional semifinal but a Christian Haas goal late in the first half tied it up. The goal was Haas’ 10th of the season.
Inside five minutes left in regulation, Mt. Vernon found the back of the net to finish off the Golden Bears (8-9).
Mt. Vernon (11-6) advances to face East Central (14-4) in the sectional championship. East Central defeated Greenfield-Central Wednesday in penalty kicks.
