By JAMES SEAY
For The Reporter
The No. 1-ranked Noblesville Millers girls soccer team defeated Pendleton Heights 3-0 to capture the Class 3A Sectional 8 championship. It is the 18th sectional title for the powerhouse and fourth straight sectional title for the team’s seniors.
Noblesville roared out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first half with stifling defense and aggressive offense. The team did not even a shot on their own goal until late in the first half. They dominated time of possession and spent most of the first half with several shots on goal. With the game firmly in hand they decided to sit the starting unit for most of the second half.
“This time of year, in a game like this it is a good opportunity to get our girls on the field to gain experience in a championship environment,” Noblesville head coach Mike Brady said.
Ohio State commit Ava Bramblett started the scoring with a nice right foot in the 11th minute to put the Millers on the board.
“[Ava] is a special player, she doesn’t just do it by herself she is good at getting her teammates involved, but she can take over a game at any time,” Brady said after the win.
“We came out today and won the game. We have never lost a sectional game in my time here and it is a great feeling. Our last game [against Hamilton Southeastern] felt like more of a championship, but we are happy to get the win,” said Bramblett.
Fellow Senior Lauren Adam quickly found Meredith Tippner for a beautiful 40-yard pass to assist on the goal.
“I took the touch and saw Meredith put up her arm towards the back post and went for her and she made a great play for the goal,” said Adam.
The Millers were able to keep up the pace on both offense and defense in the second half and junior Eva Montgomery was able to find the back of the net to complete the scoring with a dominating 3-0 lead.
Noblesville’s Eva Montgomery scored a second-half goal for the Millers. (Kent Graham)
“Our motto is to get better day by day. We didn’t start off the season playing as a group, but now we are starting to play as a group,” said Brady.
No. 1 Noblesville will host No. 17 Homestead on Thursday in the regional semi-final, with the winner going to the championship game Saturday in Kokomo. The Millers will look to avenge last year’s 4-2 loss against the team from Fort Wayne.