With an undefeated record and a No. 2 ranking in Class 3A, the Noblesville boys soccer team acknowledges that it will get the best shot of every opponent this season.
The Millers got a tough test from Fishers, ranked No. 13 in 3A, Tuesday at the Hallmark Orthodontics Soccer Complex. The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the second half before Noblesville came back to win 2-1. With the victory, the Millers are 2-0 in Hoosier Crossroads Conference play and 5-0 overall.
“I think they had tremendous resolve,” said Noblesville coach Ken Dollaske. “I think anybody can break if you realize, hey, you got this bullseye on your back, and they go up 1-0 at our place. I think they did great. I think they kept the pressure. I don’t think they lost their cool. They still brought the energy.”
Neither team scored in the first half. It took until the game’s 51st minute for someone to get on the board, and it would be Fishers: Angel Roque Granados played a ball to Ian Bowron, who was able to evade the Millers defense and kick the ball into the net.
“I thought the second half, we came out and played really hard,” said Schmidt. “We created a lot of good chances. Obviously, Ian Bowron stepped up and made a play, got a goal.”
Noblesville got the equalizer in the 64th minute when Drew Barnes nailed a penalty kick. The Millers then kept the pressure on, with numerous scoring chances during the game’s final 10 minutes. Fishers continued to defend well, even though it was playing with a man down due to a red card.
“You give a good team a man down and a PK, it’s hard to overcome that,” said Schmidt. The coach said his team “played with a lot of heart” and gave a gutsy performance.
Finally, with three and a half minutes left, Noblesville got the go-ahead goal. Cole Bramblett sent a cross into the box, and Palmer Ault was there to touch the ball in.
“You look at our defense, we roll five kids through the back and I think we’re able to really help Palmer start in the back line,” said Dollaske.
The Millers are off until next Tuesday when they play Westfield, while the Tigers are scheduled to host Marion on Thursday.
OTHER GAMES
The Carmel boys soccer team, ranked No. 6 in 3A, beat 2A No. 9 Brebeuf Jesuit 1-0 in a Tuesday away game.
Junior AJ Caito scored the Greyhounds’ goal in the second half, off an assist by junior Will Morgan. Senior Henry Giesel recorded his third straight shutout.
Carmel is 3-1-1 and plays Tuesday at Lawrence North.
Hamilton Southeastern’s boys, ranked No. 8 in 3A, picked up 1-0 HCC victory over 3A No. 17 Avon Tuesday.
The Royals scored their goal in the second half, when Evan Dawdy crossed the ball to Neel Wetzel, who put it over the goalkeeper into the net.
Southeastern is 3-0 in conference play and 6-0-1 overall. The Royals play at Brebeuf Jesuit on Saturday.
Hamilton Heights’ girls got a road win Tuesday, beating Northwestern 2-1 in a Hoosier Conference game.
The Tigers scored the first goal, making a penalty kick in the first half. The 2A No. 10 Huskies answered with 10 minutes left in the half, when Emma Hall beat the wing defender and slipped the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net.
Heights got the winning goal in the second half with 18 minutes to play. Kyndall Ferguson played the ball to Cassidy Felger, who touched the ball into the net. Huskies goalkeeper Jenn Houser made seven saves.
Heights is 5-0-2 and plays Saturday at Danville.