By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – In the latest Indiana Soccer Coaches Association Class 3A boys rankings. Fishers is rated No. 3 and Noblesville is ranked No. 4.
The two teams met Tuesday night at the Millers’ Hallmark Orthodontics Soccer Complex, and the game was as close as one would expect from teams right next to each other in the rankings. The Tigers and Noblesville played to a 0-0 tie in a well-played game in front of a big crowd.
“I thought that was a great high school soccer game,” said Fishers coach Phil Schmidt. “I thought that’s exactly what high school athletics is all about. Both teams poured their heart out on the field, competing.”
Both teams had their chances in this Hoosier Crossroads Conference game, but neither was able to break through for the entire 80 minutes. The Millers almost scored a goal in the contest’s waning seconds, but it was waved off.
“I think overall, the game went well,” said Noblesville acting head coach Jack Hart. “Our issue is putting a first half and a second half together right now.”
Hart said the game between Fishers and the Millers is “always going to be a battle. For me, the tie is a win at this stage in the season.”
“We had some good chances, they had some chances and I thought it was just a great night of soccer,” said Schmidt.
The Tigers are 1-1-2 in HCC play and 4-1-2 overall, and host 3A No. 6 Carmel on Thursday. Noblesville is 1-0-1 in the conference and 3-0-2 overall, and plays at 3A No. 16 Westfield next Tuesday.
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On Saturday, Fishers’ boys traveled to McCutcheon and beat the Mavericks 8-1.
Kyle Clayton scored five goals for the Tigers, with Ethan Slabaugh, Santiago Morales and Noah Reinhart all scoring one. Eight different Fishers players had one assist: Braeden Dills, Caleb Hernandez, Clayton, Reinhart, Will Sandlon, Ethan Laboy, Reid Spittler and Morales.
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The Hamilton Heights boys team got a dramatic victory at Anderson Tuesday night, with Sam Harpham putting in the winning goal with 16.6 seconds left to lift the Huskies past the Indians 4-3.
Heights struck quickly in the first half, with Micah Colvin getting the first goal in the 18th minute, then Phoenix Vondersaar scored a goal just seconds later. Anderson tied the game back up, but Harpham would score before halftime to give the Huskies a 3-2 lead at the break. The Indians tied the game in the second half, and the score would stay even until Harpham made the game-winning goal.
Heights is 4-1-1 and hosts Kokomo on Thursday.
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Carmel’s boys, ranked No. 6 in 3A, beat 2A No. 2 Brebeuf Jesuit 1-0 on the road Tuesday.
Braeden Thomson scored the winning goal for the Greyhounds, with Davis Dilling getting the assist. Adam Keleher got the shutout in goal.
“I am proud of the effort the team gave for all 80 minutes,” said Carmel coach Shane Schmidt. “We possessed the ball well all because of our movement off the ball. Our team shape continues to improve.”
The ‘Hounds are 3-2-2 and play Thursday at Fishers.
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Hamilton Southeastern’s boys cruised past Avon 5-1 Tuesday in an HCC game.
The Orioles led 1-0 at halftime, but the Royals dominated the second half. Oscar Tittle and James Wells both scored two goals, with Logan Puls putting in another goal. Five different Southeastern players had an assist: Jonathan Leeper, Evan Shideler, Drew MacDonald, Davis Brown and Rodrigo Silvestre-Muniz.
The Royals are 2-0-1 in the conference and 5-0-2 overall. They next play Saturday at Brebeuf Jesuit.
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The Westfield girls team, ranked No. 17 in 3A, picked up a 2-1 all-county win over 2A No. 2 Guerin Catholic on Monday.
Ari Williams and Caroline Wallace both scored goals for the Shamrocks, who host 3A No. 8 Zionsville tonight in an HCC game. Westfield is 1-1 in the conference and 4-1-1 overall. The Golden Eagles are 1-3-1.
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Westfield’s boys played Zionsville, the No. 1-ranked team in 3A, to a 2-2 tie on Tuesday.
The Shamrocks are 1-1-3 and host Brebeuf Jesuit on Thursday.