By RICHIE HALL
SHERIDAN – The Sheridan girls soccer team continued its post-season run on Thursday, as the Blackhawks won a Class 1A regional semifinal at their home field.
Sheridan had come back from 2-0 down against No. 13-ranked Faith Christian, tying the game with two second-half goals. The score stayed 2-2 after regulation and overtime, sending the contest to penalty kicks. That’s where Sheridan prevailed, beating the Eagles 3-1 to advance to its first-ever regional championship game.
The Blackhawks played magnificently in the penalty-kick round. It started with goalkeeper Makenzy Terry, who was in the net first as Faith Christian got to kick first. But Terry blocked the Eagles’ first attempt, giving Sheridan an immediate advantage.
Senior Emma Alexander took the Blackhawks’ first kick, and she easily put it in the net. Terry then blocked FC’s second attempt, and junior Cecilia Timme made her kick. Two rounds in, Sheridan led 2-0.
“It’s really nerve-wracking, but I just think in my head that I can do it,” said Terry. “And I know I have all the fans supporting me.”
Faith made its third kick to get on the board, but Norah Stites also made her kick, putting the ‘Hawks up 3-1. The Eagles then missed their fourth attempt, giving Sheridan the win.
“This is the first time they ever went through that scenario,” said Blackhawks coach Brian Prange. “I was confident. I was confident in our goalie Makenzy Terry. She’s been phenomenal all year.” Prange also praised Alexander, Timme and Stites, noting that Stites “got injured early in the game, came in finished it off.”
Faith Christian scored its first goal in the opening half, then put in a second goal four minutes into the second half. Sheridan got on the board eight minutes later, with Mac Smith making a volley to put the Blackhawks on the board.
Alexander then scored in the 64th minute, putting in a penalty kick to tie the game at 2-2. That would be the score at the end of regulation, and neither team would scored during either of the two overtime periods. Terry made sure of that, as she made a huge save with 41 seconds left in the second overtime.
“I can’t be more proud of the whole team because they pressed and they did everything I told them at halftime they could do,” said Prange. “They let two goals go in and they just turned it back up. And once we got the one, we knew. You just saw the lights click on that we were going to do it.”
There was a standing-room only crowd at the game, which made the victory even more exciting.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Terry. “We were so glad that we had so much support like we did.”
Sheridan will travel to Taylor on Saturday for the regional championship game. The Blackhawks, now 13-5-1, play No. 6-ranked Canterbury, who beat Eastbrook 1-0 in its regional semifinal game.
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Top-ranked Carmel beat No. 15 Brownsburg on Thursday at the Bulldogs’ field to advance to a Class 3A regional championship game.
Adalyn Cameron got the Greyhounds’ goal, off an assist by Olivia Cebalo.
Carmel is 17-0-3 and will host Cathedral on Saturday at Murray Stadium.
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Noblesville, the two-time defending 3A state champion, sailed past host Fort Wayne Northrop 7-2 to move on to the regional championship.
The No. 3-ranked Millers got goals from seven different players: Atley Pittman, Sydney Elliott, Lily Ault, Sadie Black, Meredith Tippner, Eva Montgomery and Caylee Cunningham. Noblesville got assists from Allie Royer, Kaydence Fleck, Pittman, Delaney Stone and Bree Nelson.
The Millers are 14-1-3 and take on No. 7 Fort Wayne Carroll Saturday at Kokomo.
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Guerin Catholic reached a Class 2A regional championship by beating No. 19 and host Tri-West 3-0.
The No. 3-ranked Golden Eagles got their first goal with 13 minutes left in the first half when Annabel Wright put it in the net. Alex Soucie made a penalty kick about four minutes later to give Guerin Catholic a 2-0 halftime lead. Taylor Beard added a second-half goal.
The Golden Eagles are 13-4-1 and play No. 10 Lawrenceburg on Saturday for the Bishop Chatard regional championship.