By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
There are five ranked girls soccer teams in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference, so of course any game between them is going to be close.
Noblesville, ranked No. 6 in Class 3A, hosted 3A No. 13 Zionsville Wednesday for the Millers’ Senior Night game at the White River Elementary fields, which ended in a 1-1 tie. It was an intense, well-played contest, but the scoring all happened during the last few minutes of the first half.
Noblesville got on the board first with 3:07 left in the first half. After a handball call on the Eagles, the Millers were given a free kick opportunity just outside the goal box. Jewell Hudson took the kick, and soon was given an assist, as she touched the ball to Carly Hudnall, who put the ball in the back of the net.
Zionsville scored minutes later, however, when a corner kick resulted in the ball rolling into the net. That was with 47.1 seconds left in the half, and neither team scored in the second half.
“It was a conference game, they’re always going to be battles,” said Millers coach Mike Brady. “One goal is not going to be enough against a team like Zionsville, and we let down just enough for them to get that goal. We pressed in the second half. I thought we had better opportunities, but again, we didn’t capitalize and we go home this evening with a tie.”
Still, Noblesville remains unbeaten for the season at 8-0-3. The Millers are 2-0-2 in HCC play.
In other Wednesday Hoosier Crossroads Conference games…
Hamilton Southeastern beat Westfield 5-0. In the first half, the 3A No. 8 Royals scored their first goal on a header by Ava Keaffaber, with the assist from Molly Harris on a cross. Claire Wilkinson got the second goal, putting a Taylor Pozzebon assist into the bottom left corner. Keaffaber scored again before halftime, with Layla Brown providing the assist.
In the second half, Wilkinson scored her second goal of the game on a long shot, with Pozzebon assisting. Pozzebon then got HSE’s final goal of the game, with Madison Dalton assisting.
“The defense sure put on a show, defending well 1v1 and communicating nicely to ensure the shutout,” said Royals coach Greg Davidson.
The win keeps HSE unbeaten in the conference at 4-0.
Fishers defeated Brownsburg 2-1 on Wednesday.
After a scoreless first half, Dianna Rollag got the 3A No. 13 Tigers on the board with a goal in the 66th minute. The 3A No. 10 Bulldogs tied the game minutes later, but Gretchen Mills gave Fishers the victory, putting the game-winner in the back of the net with 10 seconds remaining.
Moving to the Metropolitan Conference, Carmel continued to roll in MIC play by beating Warren Central 6-1 on Wednesday.
Katie Soderstrom scored two goals for the 3A No. 3 Greyhounds, with Kelsie James, Ashley Witucki, Elizabeth Hargis and Tess Nihill each getting one goal. Assists came from Kate Donovan, James, Lucy Lyon, Katie Soderstrom, Naomi Mann and Susie Soderstrom.
Emily Melchi and Autumn Ackerman both had one save.
“Warren Central is always a very organized and disciplined team,” said Carmel coach Frank Dixon. “We are usually able to wear them down and the second half goals show we did that with some success.”
The Greyhounds are now 10-1-1, and 6-0 in conference play.
University defeated Park Tudor 2-0 in a Wednesday away game.
Tessa Hudson scored the Trailblazers’ first goal, which came off a double assist: Lillian Klesz played a ball to the corner to Kenzie Allen, who sent it across the box to Hudson. Halfway through the second half, Lily Snyder sent a ball to Klemsz, who found Halle Von Ah for the score.
University also played tough defense to ensure the shutout.
“Juniors Brooke Andrus, Hallie Harrison, Meredith Malott, and Lucy Sndyer each played an excellent game in the back,” said UHS coach Maddy MacAllister.
The Noblesville girls soccer team honored its 10 seniors and their families after its game with Zionsville Wednesday at the White River Elementary fields. (Bret Richardson)
Noblesville’s Jenna Chatterton holds off Zionsville’s Evelyn Norfleet during the Millers-Eagles girls soccer game Wednesday at the White River Elementary fields. Noblesville and Zionsville played to a 1-1 tie. (Kent Graham)
Hamilton Southeastern players celebrate after scoring a goal during the Royals’ game with Westfield Wednesday. Southeastern won 5-0.
For more game images, click on this link:
https://capturephotographybydkirk.smugmug.com/HSE-vs-WHS-G-V-Soccer (Kirk Green)