On Saturday, there will be quite a few Miller fans heading up to Kokomo. And staying there a while.
Noblesville’s girls and boys soccer teams will be playing up there that afternoon for Class 3A semi-state championships. The No. 2-ranked Miller girls take on No. 7 Penn at 3 p.m., followed by the No. 8 Miller boys facing Lake Central at 5 p.m.
It’s a big occasion for Noblesville’s soccer programs, and of course, the goal for both is to win, as the winner of each game books a place in next weekend’s Class 3A state finals.
NOTABLE RE-MATCH
Saturday will be the second time in the past month that the Millers girls will play Penn. The two teams played at Noblesville’s White River Elementary School field on Sept. 28, with the Millers beating the Kingsmen 4-2.
Freshman Ava Bramblett scored two goals for Noblesville in that game, with freshman Meskerem James and junior Jenna Chatterton each getting one. Senior Sydney Egendoerger and sophomore Amanda Baker both had one goal for Penn.
“We played Penn midway through the season and got a positive result, they’re a different team now, but so are we, and we’ll have to play even better than we did the first time if you want the result we’ve been working towards,” said Noblesville coach Mike Brady.
The Millers also played the Kingsmen two years ago at the Kokomo semi-state. Penn, in the midst of an undefeated run that saw it win two state championships, edged Noblesville in penalty kicks after the teams played to a 1-1 tie after regulation and overtime.
This season, the Kingsmen are 15-5-2. Penn won its own sectional by beating Concord 2-0, Elkhart Central 4-0 and Northridge 2-1. That sent the Kingsmen to the South Bend Adams regional, where they edged No. 13 Valparaiso in a shootout in the semi-finals before defeating No. 6 South Bend St. Joseph 2-1 in the final.
Noblesville is 15-0-3 for the season. The Millers won the Hamilton Southeastern sectional with victories over Anderson 5-0 and the host and No. 3-ranked Royals 3-1. Noblesville triumphed at the Logansport regional with wins over No. 15 Fort Wayne Carroll 1-0 in the semis and McCutcheon 5-0 in the championship game.
“Early in the season we were coming together, now, we are together,” said Brady. “What we’ve accomplished, and will continue to accomplish, we do together.”
ORGANIZED AND DISCIPLINED
Millers boys coach Ken Dollaske had to turn on IHSAATV.org in order to get a look at his team’s semi-state opponent. He watched replays of Lake Central’s sectional championship win over Hammond Morton, then saw the Indians’ regional final win over Northridge.
“They look like a very organized and disciplined team defensively,” said Dollaske. The coach noted that there were three players – seniors Jack Bailey (No. 9) and Rob MacNeil (No. 10) and sophomore Jake Noldin (No. 12) “that look dangerous on offense that we will have to worry about. I believe that if we play our brand of possession ball with high pace on the flanks and up top, we should be victorious on Saturday afternoon.”
Lake Central is 11-5-3 for the season, and began its post-season run by winning the Munster sectional, over Highland 2-0 and No. 18 Hammond Morton 5-1. That sent the Indians to the Penn regional, where they defeated South Bend Adams 4-2 and No. 10 Northridge 2-1.
Noblesville heads into semi-state with a 16-2-2 record. The Millers won their own sectional over Pendleton Heights 5-2, No. 13 Fishers 3-1 and No. 15 Hamilton Southeastern 4-3. Noblesville then claimed the Kokomo regional title, beating Harrison 1-0 and No. 2 Fort Wayne Carroll 2-1.
Sophomore Palmer Ault has scored 12 goals for the Millers, with junior Drew Barnes adding 11 goals. Senior Adam Carter has 73 saves as goalkeeper, with a 1.000 goals against average.
CARMEL GIRLS, GUERIN CATHOLIC BOYS AT EVANSVILLE NORTH
Meanwhile, two Hamilton County teams are headed south for their chance at a semi-state title. The No. 5-ranked Guerin Catholic boys team plays No. 2 Evansville Memorial at 4 p.m., then No. 1 and defending 3A state champion Carmel takes on No. 5 Castle at 6 p.m.
The Golden Eagles will take on a Memorial team that is 15-3-2. The Tigers won their own sectional by beating Evansville Bosse 14-0 and No. 11 Heritage Hills 4-1, then took the Heritage Hills regional with victories over No. 4 Washington 4-1 and Madison 8-0.
Junior Isaac Bennett is Memorial’s leading scorer with 18 goals, while juniors Max Brasseale and Garland Hall have each scored 12 goals.
Guerin Catholic coach Chris McGrath said his team didn’t have the opportunity to see the Tigers play during the season, the coach said “we understand they are quick and talented from front to back. This would make them more like some of the better teams on our schedule, and should make for a fun to match for the boys to play and for the fans to watch.”
The Golden Eagles are 13-5-3. Guerin Catholic won the Brebeuf Jesuit sectional over No. 6 Cardinal Ritter 1-0, Western Boone 11-0 and the host Braves 3-1. Tommy Hartman scored two goals for GC in the final, with Aiden Soucie scoring the third goal.
The Golden Eagles then cruised through the Greensburg regional by beating No. 9 Danville 4-1 and No. 17 Speedway 6-0.
“In the end we do what we do and so our focus is really on sharpening that sword…too much worrying about the other guys can be distracting,” said McGrath.
The Castle girls are 17-2-1 for the season. The Knights won their own sectional by beating Evansville Harrison 6-0, No. 4 Evansville Memorial 2-0 and Evansville North 6-0. Castle headed to Bloomington North for the regional, where it defeated Floyd Central 2-0 and No. 8 Center Grove 1-0.
“I have talked to several of my coaching friends who played Castle and they tell me that the Knights are athletic, organized and well coached,” said Carmel coach Frank Dixon. “Their 17-2-1 record tells me they’re good.”
Dixon pointed out that Castle has not lost to or tied with any Indiana teams this year. The two losses and one tie came against three Kentucky schools, all of which are ranked in the top five in that state.
“We expect a great, competitive game on Saturday,” said Dixon.
The Knights have a pair of high-scoring seniors: Daelyn Quinn has 17 goals for the season, while Jessica Jacobs has scored 15 times. Senior Kassidy Elkin has only allowed 12 goals, for a 0.787 goals against average.
Carmel holds a 17-0-3 record. The Greyhounds also were victorious at their own sectional, beating No. 18 Zionsville 3-0 and Guerin Catholic 2-0. Carmel then triumphed at the New Palestine regional, with wins over Lawrence North 7-0 and Avon 3-0.
Senior Kelsie James has 19 goals to her credit this season, while junior goalkeeper Erin Baker has only allowed five goals, for a 0.286 goals against average.
“We are really excited to be back at the Semi-State for the second consecutive year,” said Dixon. “While we graduated some truly exceptional players off our 2018 state champion team, the returning core has accepted the challenge of being the hunted and with the help of a few new players has had a very successful season. They are looking to get the job done in Evansville.”
Noblesville’s Palmer Ault (left) has scored 12 goals for the Millers boys soccer team this season. Noblesville ttravels to Kokomo to play Lake Central in the Class 3A north semi-state on Saturday, following the Miller girls’ semi-state game with Penn. Also pictured is Hamiton Southeastern’s Chase Hatfield. (Kent Graham/File photo)