The Guerin Catholic girls soccer team never backs away from challenges, no matter what.
Not even after graduating 13 seniors for last year’s Class 3A state runner-up team. The Golden Eagles began this season by playing two top-10 ranked teams in 3A last week, then hosted rival Brebeuf Jesuit – ranked No. 5 in 2A – Saturday in their Circle City Conference opener.
The game was scoreless until the 1:07 mark, when senior Alyssa Ferry drilled a penalty kick. That was enough to give Guerin Catholic a 1-0 victory. It was GC’s first win of the year, after playing Zionsville to a draw and a 2-0 loss to Carmel, so the Golden Eagles are 1-1-1 for the season.
“There’s no expectations on scores, but with Brebeuf, the quality that (coach) Angela (Berry White) runs at that program and just our natural rivalry against Brebeuf, it’s always going to be more than just about soccer,” said Guerin Catholic coach Sean Yau.
Despite the fact that there are several players back from last year’s team, the Golden Eagles were curiously unranked at the beginning of the season. Guerin did enter the poll this week, and is ranked No. 19 in 3A.
“When you’re replacing seven starters and 13 seniors, and then you start with (then) No. 6 Zionsville and No. 2 Carmel, expectations were just to play a good brand of soccer, which they did,” said Yau. “We just didn’t get the result. I’ve been happy with their performance since the beginning of the season.”
Yau said the game was physical, emotional and intense, and the large crowd that attended the game would agree. It featured tough defense from both teams and some great saves from both goalkeepers. Ultimately, the game’s result was laid at the feet of Ferry, and she came through by making the penalty kick.
Ferry had been injured, so Yau was happy to see her step up and deliver the win for Guerin Catholic, saying “there’s no better person I could have thought of to finish that game for us.”
The Golden Eagles had 13 shots on goal, including a couple from Katie Koger, another senior who was part of last year’s team. CeCe Leffler stepped in to the starting center back role, and Yau said she “did a phenomenal job shutting down any Brebeuf attack.”
Guerin Catholic’s next game is Monday, when it hosts Westfield. The Golden Eagles then play three conference games: Tuesday at Covenant Christian, then home contests Thursday with Roncalli and Saturday with Bishop Chatard.
Carmel, ranked No. 2 in 3A, won both games of its Invitational on Saturday.
In a morning game, the Greyhounds cruised past Avon 6-0. Lauren Bailey scored two goals and made one assist, with Emily Roper also adding two goals. Claire Swigart and Sophie Shepherd each scored one goal.
Ava Cabellon and Olivia Cebalo both dished out two assists, while Camryn Love made one assist. Bethany Ducat and Aubree Empie split time as goalkeeper for the shutout.
In its evening game, Carmel defeated 3A No. 13 Fishers 3-0. Lila Simmons, Saliyah Brady and Cebalo each scored one goal, with Shepherd handing out one assist. Empie preserved the shutout by making several saves in the second half.
In their morning game, the Tigers played to a 0-0 draw with 2A No. 4 Cathedral.
Carmel is now 5-0-1 and plays at the Zionsville Invitational on Friday, where it will take on Notre Dame Academy, the No. 1-ranked team in Kentucky. Fishers will travel to Noblesville on Wednesday for a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game.
Hamilton Heights, the No. 8 team in 2A, kept its perfect record intact on Saturday with a 6-0 win over Yorktown at the Huskies’ field.
Emma Hall scored Heights’ first goal; her first shot was blocked, but she made the second attempt. Kate Hayes scored the Huskies’ second goal, then Kyndall Ferguson scored, heading in a pass from Jayla Logan.
Heights added three more goals in the second half. Cassidy Felger scored from 18 yards, Hall put in a second goal and Addyson Ferguson scored the final goal at the last second. Huskies coach Travis Kauffman said the Huskies defense “played another strong game” with its third shutout in five games.
Heights is 5-0 and hosts Hoosier Conference opponent Northwestern on Tuesday.
University picked up a Pioneer Conference win on Saturday, beating Muncie Burris 4-3.
The Trailblazers will host Hamilton Heights on Wednesday.