Two of the best girls soccer programs in Indiana met for a season-opening game on Saturday.
Class 3A No. 2 Carmel traveled to 3A No. 3 Hamilton Southeastern, and the Greyhounds were victorious 1-0. Carmel’s goal came in the 45th minute, when Emily Roper scored off a rebound shot from a free direct kick. Tamara Smith is credited with the assist.
Abby Jenkins made seven saves as the Royals’ goalkeeper, while Erin Baker had four saves for Carmel.
The Greyhounds play at Pike on Monday. Southeastern travels to Franklin Central on Wednesday.
The Carmel boys soccer team got a big win in its first game of the season, beating defending 3A state champion Zionsville 3-1 at Brian Murray Stadium.
Senior Medard Mikobi, a newcomer for the Greyhounds, scored all three of Carmel’s goals. Jackson Carl made two of the assists and Drew Valdez got the other assist.
“I’m happy with the way that it came out,” said Greyhounds coach Shane Schmidt. “All in all, the boys did a good job out there and played well and hung with it.”
Carmel plays at Noblesville on Thursday.
Hamilton Southeastern’s boys also got a nice victory to start the season, beating Mount Vernon 4-0 on the road.
Evan Dawdy scored two goals for the Royals, with seniors Austin Springer and Neel Wetzel both adding one goal. Haris Mizuta provided two assists, while Wetzel and Jack Hyatt both had one. Brady Strawmyer had one save.
Southeastern hosts Lawrence North on Tuesday.
Fishers’ boys began the season with a Hoosier Crossroads Conference victory, beating Franklin Central 1-0 at home.
Quinn Manford scored the Tigers’ goal, off an assist from Keiji Nakamae. Goalkeepers Nick Rambo and Tyler March shared the shutout.
Fishers plays at Westfield on Tuesday.
The Fishers girls team beat McCutcheon 8-0 on Saturday.
The Tigers host Westfield on Wednesday.
Hamilton Southeastern’s Kiley Jones (left) takes control of the ball as Carmel’s Megan Hamm defends during the Royals-Greyhounds girls soccer game Saturday at the Southeastern soccer field. Carmel won 1-0 after scoring an early second-half goal. (Kent Graham)