The Noblesville and Carmel boys soccer teams both won Class 3A regional semi-final matches on the road Thursday night.
The No. 2-ranked Millers cruised past Columbia City 5-0 after waiting out a lightning delay early in the match. Noblesville led 1-0 at halftime; Jake Johns scored the goal and Palmer Ault provided the assist.
The Millers quickly scored to open the second half: Johns netted a second goal in the 42nd minute, then Ault put in a goal two minutes later. Drew Cochran made a penalty kick in the 46th minute for Noblesville’s third goal, then Johns completed the scoring with his third goal in the 59th minute, with Ault again assisting him.
The Millers improved to 17-1-1 and will play for the Kokomo regional championship at 2 p.m. Saturday, taking on Fort Wayne Northrop. The Bruins beat No. 18 Harrison 3-1 to advance to the final.
The No. 10-ranked Greyhounds took care of Avon 3-1 at the Orioles’ field. Baenan Mckeown scored Carmel’s first goal during the ninth minute, then Connor Dora found the back of the net with 18 minutes left in the half. AJ Caito added the third goal on a free kick three minutes before halftime. Avon scored its goal in the second half, but Carmel allowed them no other goals. Caito and Josh Martinez both made assists.
“I am proud of how we came out and played with high intensity from the kickoff,” said Greyhounds coach Shane Schmidt, who credited his team’s shape and ball movement with being “solid.”
Carmel improved to 14-3-2 and will host Cathedral at 1 p.m. Saturday for the regional championship. The Irish defeated East Central 1-0 to reach the final.
CLASS 3A REGIONAL SOCCER PAIRINGS
At Kokomo
Noblesville vs. Fort Wayne Northrop
At Goshen
South Bend Adams vs. Chesterton
At Seymour
Castle vs. Bloomington South
At Carmel
Cathedral vs. Carmel
