By RICHIE HALL
The first official day that IHSAA boys soccer games can be played is Saturday, and three Hamilton County teams will be taking to the field that day.
Hamilton Southeastern will host Mount Vernon for its season opener, while two more schools will be going on the road. Carmel plays at Zionsville and Fishers travels to Franklin Central for an early Hoosier Crossroads Conference game.
The Tigers won a regional championship last year and came very close to advancing to the state finals. Fishers coach Phil Schmidt said his team returns “many key contributors” from that squad.
Juniors Noah Reinhart, a Second Team All-State player and Keiji Nakamae will lead the attack, while two seniors, goalkeeper and captain Tyler March and center back Teghan Brownell, and sophomore Kyle Clayton, are the top defenders.
Four-year letter winner and captain Sam Hevesy and captain Charlie Stump will lead the midfield. In addition, the Tigers will have several first-year varsity players and three freshmen. In all, Schmidt says Fishers has a solid team with quite a bit of potential.
“We need some new varsity players to step up in new roles and gel with our returning players to allow us to be the best team we can possibly be,” said Schmidt. “I believe we will be really strong in team defense and have offensive playmakers that can be difference makers.”
The Greyhounds are back with 12 seniors on their roster: Thomas Barrett, Andrew Caito, Cole Fogleman, Chase Havice, Ian Mahoney, Josh Martinez, Baenan Mckeown, Richard Monsey, William Morgan, Elijah Shemesh, Cade Turton and Andrew Valdez.
“We are looking forward to another tough schedule again this year,” said Carmel coach Shane Schmidt. “We return 12 letter winners from last year’s team, with five of them who have starting experience and several others who played major minutes.” Schmidt said the team is “excited to see our younger players mix in with or returners.”
University will begin its season on Monday, hosting Heritage Christian. The Trailblazers will have a new coach, Alex Baumgart, who recently coached at Park Tudor for six seasons.
BUSY TUESDAY
The other five county schools will open their seasons on Tuesday. Noblesville will host Greenfield-Central in its opener, then play at Carmel on Thursday.
The Millers, who were ranked No. 1 in Class 3A for several weeks last year, return All-American senior Palmer Ault and All-Great Lakes Region Spencer Holland. Noblesville coach Ken Dollaske said those two contributed over 50 percent of the Millers’ offense last season.
Defensive players back include Second Team All-State Gabe Ingle at goalkeeper and Brady Horn at center back. Other returners are Drew Cochran, Kyle Goad, Brayden Doll and Andy Stansfield, while two transfers, Michael Crandley and Noah Bernot, are also on the roster.
Noblesville will play its usual difficult schedule, taking on seven 3A top 20 teams and 2A No. 1 Guerin Catholic.
“On top of that, a matchup with nationally ranked St. Ignatius High School from Cleveland, Ohio will truly show how good the Millers can be this season,” said Dollaske.
Guerin Catholic also gets its season underway on Tuesday by playing at Cardinal Ritter. The Golden Eagles won a regional championship in Class 2A last season.
Hamilton Heights hosts Yorktown to begin its season, while Sheridan welcomes Irvington Prep Academy for its first game. Westfield will play an all-county game to start, traveling to Fishers.
A complete list of schedules for all county teams appears below.
CARMEL
Aug. 14: at Zionsville, 11:30 a.m.
Aug. 19: Noblesville, 7 p.m.
Aug. 21: at Hamilton Southeastern, 12:30 p.m.
Aug. 24: Ben Davis, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26: at Center Grove, 7 p.m.
Aug. 31: Brebeuf Jesuit, 7 p.m.
Sept. 7: Lawrence North, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9: at Lawrence Central, 7 p.m.
Sept. 10: Columbus North, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14: at North Central, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16: Warren Central, 7 p.m.
Sept. 17: at Homestead, 8 p.m.
Sept. 21: Pike, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23: Cathedral, 7 p.m.
Sept. 24: at Guerin Catholic, 5 p.m.
Sept. 28: at Harrison, 7 p.m.
FISHERS
Aug. 14: at Franklin Central, 11:30 a.m.
Aug. 17: Westfield, 7 p.m.
Aug. 21: at Harrison, 11:30 a.m.
Aug. 24: at Zionsville, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 26: Guerin Catholic, 7 p.m.
Aug. 28: McCutcheon, 11:30 a.m.
Aug. 31: Noblesville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 7: at Hamilton Southeastern, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9: Pendleton Heights, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11: Columbus East, 12:30 p.m.
Sept. 14: Brownsburg, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 16: North Central, 7 p.m.
Sept. 21: at Avon, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 24: Glenbrook South, 5 p.m.
Sept. 28: at Greenfield-Central, 7:30 p.m.
GUERIN CATHOLIC
Aug. 17: at Cardinal Ritter, 7 p.m.
Aug. 24: Heritage Christian, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26: at Fishers, 7 p.m.
Aug. 28: Brebeuf Jesuit, 5 p.m.
Sept. 2: at Noblesville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4: Bishop Chatard, 2 p.m.
Sept. 7: at Roncalli, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9: Brownsburg, 7 p.m.
Sept. 14: Cathedral, 7 p.m. at Lawrence Park
Sept. 16: at Covenant Christian, 5 p.m.
Sept. 18: at Louisville Trinity, 12:30 p.m.
Sept. 24: Carmel, 5 p.m.
Sept. 28: Lafayette Central Catholic, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30: at Zionsville, 7 p.m.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS
Aug. 17: Yorktown, 7 p.m.
Aug. 19: at Pendleton Heights, 7 p.m.
Aug. 21: Muncie Burris, 11:30 a.m.
Aug. 24: at Shelbyville, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26: at New Castle, 7 p.m.
Aug. 31: Anderson, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2: at Kokomo, 7 p.m.
Sept. 8: Hoosier Conference Tournament, TBD
Sept. 9: Hoosier Conference Tournament, 7 p.m. at TBA
Sept. 11: Hoosier Conference Tournament, 11 a.m. at Northwestern
Sept. 14: Bishop Chatard, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16: Northwestern, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18: Husky Invitational, starts at 9 a.m.
Sept. 21: McCutcheon, 6 p.m.
Sept. 23: at Western, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25: at Connersville, noon
Sept. 28: Liberty Christian, 7 p.m.
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN
Aug. 14: Mount Vernon, 10:30 a.m.
Aug. 17: at Lawrence North, 7 p.m.
Aug. 21: Carmel, 12:30 p.m.
Aug. 24: Brownsburg, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26: at Pendleton Heights, 7 p.m.
Aug. 28: at Franklin Central, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 31: at Avon, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4: Brebeuf Jesuit, 10:30 a.m.
Sept. 7: Fishers, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11: at Perry Meridian, 11:30 a.m.
Sept. 14: at Westfield, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16: at Noblesville, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 18: at Cathedral, 11:30 a.m.
Sept. 21: Zionsville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25: Homestead, 11:30 a.m.
Sept. 25: Fort Wayne Carroll, 5:30 p.m.
NOBLESVILLE
Aug. 17: Greenfield-Central, 7 p.m.
Aug. 19: at Carmel, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 21: at Olentangy Liberty (Ohio), 2:15 p.m.
Aug. 24: Avon, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26: at Brebeuf Jesuit, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28: at North Central, 9 a.m.
Aug. 31: at Fishers, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2: Guerin Catholic, 7 p.m.
Sept. 7: Westfield, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11: at St. Ignatius (Cleveland), 3 p.m.
Sept. 14: at Zionsville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16: Hamilton Southeastern, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 21: Franklin Central, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25: Fort Wayne Carroll, 11:30 a.m.
Sept. 25: Homestead, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 30: at Brownsburg, 7:30 p.m.
SHERIDAN
Aug. 17: Irvington Prep Academy, 7 p.m.
Aug. 19: at Anderson Prep Academy, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 24: at Mississinewa, 6 p.m.
Aug. 26: at Benton Central, 5:45 p.m.
Aug. 28: at Blackford, 10 a.m.
Aug. 30: at Tipton, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 2: at Western Boone, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 9: Tri-Central, 5 p.m.
Sept. 11: Liberty Christian, 12:30 p.m.
Sept. 13: Taylor, 5 p.m.
Sept. 14: North Montgomery, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 16: Crawfordsville, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 21: at Carroll, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 23: at Eastern, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 25: at Western Boone, 10 a.m.
Sept. 30: at Rossville, 5:30 p.m.
UNIVERSITY
Aug. 16: Heritage Christian, 5 p.m.
Aug. 19: at Lebanon, 5 p.m.
Aug. 21: Indianapolis Lutheran, 10 a.m.
Aug. 23: Bethesda Christian, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 26: at Seton Catholic, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 28: Muncie Burris, noon
Aug. 31: Park Tudor, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 7: at Bishop Chatard, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9: at Anderson Prep Academy, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 16: at Liberty Christian, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 18: Pioneer Conference tournament, 10 a.m.
Sept. 21: at Greenwood Christian, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 23: Western Boone, 5 p.m.
Sept. 28: North West Warriors Home School, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 30: Tri-West, 5 p.m.
WESTFIELD
Aug. 17: at Fishers, 7 p.m.
Aug. 21: at Pike, 3 p.m.
Aug. 24: Franklin Central, 7 p.m.
Aug. 28: Greenfield-Central, 3:30 p.m.
Aug. 31: Zionsville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2: at Brebeuf Jesuit, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 7: at Noblesville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9: MTI School of Knowledge, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11: Westfield Invitational, starts at 9 a.m.
Sept. 13: at Cathedral, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 14: Hamilton Southeastern, 7 p.m.
Sept. 21: at Brownsburg, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23: Harrison, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25: at Plainfield, 11:30 a.m.
Sept. 28: Avon, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30: Kokomo, 7 p.m.