By RICHARD TORRES
For The Reporter
FISHERS – No more shoulda, woulda, coulda.
No more heartbreak. No more next year.
On Saturday night, the top-ranked Hamilton Southeastern Royals finally earned their team photo.
After more than a decade of futility, the Class 3A Royals defeated Mudsock rival Fishers, 1-0, during the Sectional 8 finals – marking their 14th shutout victory – to end a title drought that has plagued the program since 2012.
“It’s a huge relief. It’s something that this whole team, this whole program has been working towards for forever, and it has finally come true,” HSE junior goalkeeper Hannah Dodge said. “We broke the curse, and this is the team to do it.”
Previously, misfortune haunted the Royals (18-0-1) for 13 years after back-to-back semi-state runs in 2011-12 – and one 2A state finals appearance in 2011.
From 1998 to 2012, the Royals captured six sectional titles – two in 2A – with five under coach Greg Davidson’s watch (1999, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012), but in the years to follow, the postseason proved unkind, until now.
Between 2013-2015, Fishers soured HSE’s title hopes at sectional while winning a state championship of their own in 2014.
Over the next nine postseasons, rival Noblesville served as a sectional roadblock en route to five 3A state titles (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024).
Not this time.
“You know, I had to rely on my …,” Davidson paused as his emotions overwhelmed him. “I had to rely on my faith quite a bit. We were so good, and we just happened to have Noblesville. In those years, typically we would have run the gamut, but Noblesville was just as good for so many years. Sometimes, they were the better team. Sometimes, we were the better team. And sometimes, it was dead even.”
This postseason, the Royals confirmed they were worthy by dethroning Noblesville, 4-0, in the sectional semifinals and avenging the past against Fishers, who also lost 6-1 to HSE during their regular season meeting.
“I’m happy for this group because they deserve it. I’m happy for my alumni that are here because I felt like they deserved it, and they’re so happy that our program got it done,” Davidson said.
The Royals had overcome their nerves first, as the Tigers (8-9-3) attempted to pull them out of their game by disrupting the midfield and forcing the Royals to play long ball through a scoreless first half.
HSE outshot Fishers 11-1 through the first 40 minutes with five shots on goal, but Tigers’ senior goalkeeper Sarah Maudlin and the defense led by junior Iris Martin stood strong.
“We had a game plan, and they executed it to darn near perfection. We wanted to make things difficult for them, especially in the middle of the field, and I couldn’t have asked for a better effort,” Fishers coach Harold Spooner said.
The strategy worked until the 45th minute.
“Our halftime speech was very directed on us and what they’re causing us to do, and what we needed to do because of who we are,” Davidson said.
The Royals, who are ranked first in the nation by MaxPreps and second by the United Soccer Coaches Association, applied the pressure to start the second half.
With four rapid shots in the first four minutes, Indiana University commit Riley Boyd initiated the eventual game-winning attack, as she dribbled into Tigers’ territory.
Boyd passed off to sophomore Sydney May, who fired a cross pass in front of the box where both Boyd and Ball State commit Addison McClain crashed with the latter tapping it into the corner of the net.
“I knew what I needed to do. I needed to be in the box. Be there for my teammates, and it was just like any other time. I just ran up, put it in the side of the net,” McClain said. “It was great. I was really excited.”
Dodge locked in, much like she’s done all season, to record her 14th clean sheet.
“I think, (the drought) was getting into our heads a little bit, but we did a good job of keeping our composure and knowing that we had that game,” Dodge said. “We just needed to continue, and we finally got our goal in the second half.”
The Tigers had two shots on goal overall, and the second by senior Mya Williams almost netted the equalizer in the 78th minute, but the ball ricocheted off the crossbar.
“I was just praying to be completely honest. It’s just surreal, and obviously, it’s some luck that it ended up going off the crossbar,” Dodge said. “Only three goals allowed on the season. I mean, it’s crazy, but again, it’s all my defense. They trust me, and I trust them.”
They believed it was their year. Finally.
“Now, you’ve earned a picture!,” Davidson exclaimed after his team collected their trophy.
“How they played us tonight compared to earlier in the year was night and day, but I do think the better team won. That’s the thing that hasn’t happened maybe in the past, and sometimes, the better team did win in the past, and we were just outside of it. Tonight, our girls were definitely deserving.”