The REPORTER
The Sheridan girls soccer team is off to a strong start in 2024 after its historic 2023 season.
The Blackhawks began their season Monday with a 4-0 win at Lebanon. Sheridan got on the board quickly, with Avery Hills scoring her first career goal four minutes into the game. Sadie Timme made the assist.
Later in the first half, Cecilia Timme got a penalty kick. She missed the kick, but after the ball came loose, Timme followed it and put the ball in the net to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead. Sadie Timme scored before halftime with a long kick that dropped over the goalkeeper’s head.
Sheridan got one more goal in the second half, with Cecilia Timme scoring to make it 4-0. Blackhawks coach Brian Prange said his team controlled the majority of the game “with good play from Mac Smith” from the defensive mid area.
Makenzy Terry made five saves as Sheridan goalkeeper.
On Wednesday, the Hawks hosted Northwestern on their new turf field and ran away with a 5-0 victory.
Sheridan was in control from the beginning and got its first goal 15 minutes into the game. Makaley Terry crossed the ball to Brielle Garner, who sent it into the net. Cecilia Timme scored the Blackhawks’ second goal minutes later, then Makenzy Terry put in the third goal, which finished the first-half scoring.
Cecilia Timme scored her second goal of the night in the second half to give Sheridan a 4-0 lead, then Sadie Timme completed the scoring with another goal. Meanwhile, the Hawks recorded their second shutout of the week, with Hills in goal.
“Avery Hills started in goal tonight and was able to control everything that came her way,” said Prange. “She was a valuable asset in distributing the ball to her teammates to help start the attack on the opponent’s goal.”
Sheridan plays at Frankfort tonight, with a 5:30 p.m. start.
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Fishers got a pair of big wins early this week.
On Monday, the Tigers beat defending Class 1A state champion Park Tudor 4-1 in a home game. Elise May scored two goals, with Georgia Scott and Jena Love each adding one goal. Iris Martin, Emerson Huneck and Mallory Slabaugh each made one assist.
Fishers followed that up with an upset win over 3A No. 4 Westfield 2-0 on Wednesday to begin Hoosier Crossroads Conference play. May and Rena Sawada both scored one goal, while goalkeeper Sarah Maudlin recorded the shutout.
The Tigers are 3-0 and return to action next Wednesday at Zionsville in a conference game.
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Carmel cruised to a 4-1 win over South Bend St. Joseph on Tuesday.
Elsie Flanders scored two goals for the Greyhounds and also had one assist. Emma Ehret and Halle Wellman both got one goal and one assist, with Olivia Evans and Olivia Cebalo both making one assist. Senior goalkeeper Mary Grace Knapp made five saves.
Carmel is 1-1 and plays at Guerin Catholic on Saturday morning.
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Hamilton Southeastern breezed to a 5-0 win over Franklin Central Wednesday to begin HCC play.
Sydney May and Kate Noel both scored one goal in the first half to give the Royals a 2-0 halftime lead. Abby Straus assisted on both goals. May scored her second goal of the game in the second half unassisted, then Cole Lance and Rylie Brydges made a double assist to freshman Margaux Henning, who put in her first-ever goal. Sloane May both scored Southeastern’s fifth goal, off another Brydges assist.
Southeastern is 2-0 and plays games this weekend at Newton Park in Lakeville, taking on Penn on Friday and Homestead on Saturday.
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Noblesville beat Pendleton Heights 6-0 on Wednesday.
Stats from the game will appear in a later edition. The Millers are 2-0 and host Avon next Wednesday to start HCC play.
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Guerin Catholic, the defending Class 2A state champion, played to a 0-0 tie with 3A No. 17 Zionsville Wednesday in a home game.
“Zionsville always, historically, is a formidable opponent,” said Golden Eagles coach Sean Yau. “We always have traditionally played them either the first or second game because they always set a tone for us to see where we’re at.”
Senior goalkeeper Olivia Eaton got the shutout for Guerin Catholic, which plays Carmel Saturday morning. That will be the Golden Eagles’ tough 3A opponent in a row.
But Yau said playing a tough schedule teaches his team “resiliency, that yes, we are a smaller school, but we’re always going to make sure that we have to compete with the highest programs,” and that the Golden Eagles are ready for any for type of game and competition during the state tournament.
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Hamilton Heights dropped its season opener Tuesday at Heritage Christian 3-0.
The Huskies play tonight at Pike.