When the soccer sectionals roll around, there is usually never a dull moment in Hamilton County.
The sectional brackets often see ranked teams in the first round, and a second go-around for rivalries. That is the case this year, as the IHSAA announced pairings for this year’s sectionals on Sunday night. Games are scheduled to take place the week of Oct. 2, with times and dates still being finalized.
Noblesville hosts the Class 3A boys Sectional 8 this year. The Millers will play the second game Monday, taking on No. 2 ranked Hamilton Southeastern. The two teams just saw each other Tuesday night, with the Royals winning 1-0. Fishers takes on Pendleton Heights in the opener.
The other 3A boys sectional takes place at Carmel. Sectional 10 is ridiculously loaded, with four ranked teams. In fact, the opening game features No. 1 Zionsville vs. No. 13 Guerin Catholic. Westfield will play the winner in the first semi-final.
Another big first-round game is a Metropolitan Conference re-match between No. 4 North Central and Pike. As for the No. 16 Greyhounds, they get Brebeuf Jesuit in the first round.
Rivalries and ranked battles can be one in the same. Look no further than the Class 3A girls sectional at Hamilton Southeastern. The No. 8 Royals will take on No. 13 Fishers in the first game of Sectional 8 at Southeastern. There are three rated teams in this sectional: Noblesville is ranked sixth, and will play Anderson in the semi-finals.
Guerin Catholic is hosting Sectional 10, and it’s just as loaded as the boys Sectional 10. The Golden Eagles are ranked No. 4, and will play No. 9 Zionsville in the first game. Another huge first-round game will be between No. 3 Carmel and No. 2 Brebeuf Jesuit, which reached the state finals in Class 2A two years in a row, back when 2A was the biggest class. This is the first year for three-class soccer.
HUSKIES ON THE ROAD
Hamilton Heights will be making some road trips to play in their Class 2A sectionals.
The boys will compete in Sectional 25 at Lebanon. The Huskies will take on a good Frankfort team: The Hot Dogs are 11-4, while Heights is 9-7-1. The host Tigers are ranked No. 10 and received a bye into the semi-finals.
As for the Huskies girls team, they will travel east to Yorktown. Heights will play the first game of Sectional 24, taking on Jay County.
TOUGH 1A DRAWS
Don’t let the size of the Class 1A schools fool you. Sheridan and University are playing in the same sectionals in 1A, and those will be the most loaded in the state.
The boys Sectional 40, hosted by Heritage Christian, features three top-ranked teams. The Trailblazers are No. 2, and they will take on the Blackhawks in the second game.
Other rated teams include No. 4 Heritage Christian, which plays Shortrigde in the first round. No. 12 Park Tudor got the bye and will play either International or Broad Ripple in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Sheridan will host the girls Sectional 37. The Blackhawks will play a good Western Boone team in the first round, while University faces Tipton, which is always solid in soccer.
A complete list of pairings now follows.
CLASS 3A GIRLS
Sectional 8 at Hamilton Southeastern
Game 1 – Hamilton Southeastern vs. Fishers
Game 2 – Pendleton Heights vs. Muncie Central
Game 3 – Winners of Game 1 and Game 2
Game 4 – Anderson vs. Noblesville
Game 5 – Championship
Sectional 10 at Guerin Catholic
Game 1 – Carmel vs. Zionsville
Game 2- Brebeuf Jesuit vs. Pike
Game 3 – Winners of Game 1 and Game 2
Game 4 – Westfield vs. Guerin Catholic
Game 5 – Championship
CLASS 3A BOYS
Sectional 8 at Noblesville
Game 1 – Pendleton Heights vs. Fishers
Game 2 – Noblesville vs. Hamilton Southeastern
Game 3 – Winners of Game 1 and Game 2
Game 4 – Muncie Central vs. Anderson
Game 5 – Championship
Sectional 10 at Carmel
Game 1 – Guerin Catholic vs. Zionsville
Game 2 – Pike vs. North Central
Game 3 – Carmel vs. Brebeuf Jesuit
Game 4 – Westfield vs. Winner of Game 1
Game 5 – Winners of Game 2 and Game 3
Game 6 – Championship
CLASS 2A GIRLS
Sectional 24 at Yorktown
Game 1 – Hamilton Heights vs. Jay County
Game 2 – Delta vs. New Castle
Game 3 – Yorktown vs. Winner of Game 1
Game 4 – Championship
CLASS 2A BOYS
Sectional 25 at Lebanon
Game 1 – Southmont vs. North Montgomery
Game 2 – Hamilton Heights vs. Frankfort
Game 3 – Western Boone vs. Crawfordsville
Game 4 – Lebanon vs. Winner of Game 1
Game 5 – Winners of Game 2 and Game 3
Game 6 – Championship
CLASS 1A GIRLS
Sectional 37 at Sheridan
Game 1 – Sheridan vs. Western Boone
Game 2 – Tipton vs. University
Game 3 – Tri-Central vs. Winner of Game 1
Game 4 – Championship
CLASS 1A BOYS
Sectional 40 at Heritage Christian
Game 1 – International vs. Broad Ripple
Game 2 – Sheridan vs. University
Game 3 – Shortridge vs. Heritage Christian
Game 4 – Park Tudor vs. Winner of Game 1
Game 5 – Winners of Game 2 and Game 3
Game 6 – Championship