By RICHARD TORRES
For The Reporter
FISHERS – Rivalry games typically bring out the best in teams.
On Wednesday night, the nationally ranked Hamilton Southeastern Royals and Fishers Tigers didn’t disappoint, as both programs battled to a 1-1 tie in an instant Mudsock classic.
Fishers (3-3-2) struck first with a goal scored by junior Elise May, a Butler recruit, in the ninth minute off an assist by sophomore Iris Martin before the high-powered Royals (8-0-2) eventually wore down the Tigers’ defense to equalize 69 minutes later.
The Class 3A Tigers kept the Royals scoreless through nearly 77 minutes with junior goalkeeper Sarah Maudlin supplying 14 saves against more than a dozen shots on goal by HSE.
“We’ve had our ups and downs. Seven of our first eight games have been against top 13 teams, so it gives us opportunities to get great results like tonight and also teaches us some lessons,” Fishers head coach Harold Spooner said. “I keep telling them, if we play to the best of our abilities, we can compete and beat anybody on any given night.”
They almost shocked the 3A Royals, who are ranked second in the nation, according the MaxPreps, and first in the state.
Led by a multitude of college recruits and commits, the Royals are averaging 21.9 shots per match and 11.2 shots on goal. Against the Tigers (1-2-1 HCC), they met or exceeded those marks.
In the first half, HSE logged seven shots on goal and 11 shots with 19 attacking opportunities. Overall, the Royals swarmed Tigers territory 41 times compared to Fishers’ 21, but Maudlin and her defenders maintained a clean sheet until the end despite the relentless onslaught.
Once in the first half, the Tigers’ defense aided Maudlin with a key team save by junior Reese Williams. In the second half, junior Delaney Allgeier and senior Mallory Slabaugh each posted team saves, as HSE ramped up the pressure with 10 shots on goal and 16 shots.
“They were down at our net the entire second half pretty much, and it’s a great team, so they’re going to do that to you. They were up for the challenge, and sometimes that happens,” Spooner said. “I’m so proud of how everyone played. They did it. Unfortunately, with three minutes left that’s the game sometimes.”
The Royals had 27 goals to their credit in nine games prior and against their fifth Hoosier Crossroads Conference opponent so far this season, they met resistance.
HSE shut out Franklin Central, 5-0, last month, blanked Brownsburg, 2-0, and tied defending state champion Noblesville, 1-1, on Aug. 31. The Royals (3-0-2 HCC) were coming off a 4-0 win over Avon on Sept. 4 during their last HCC contest.
“When you’re as good as we have been traditionally and as good as we are this year, we know we’re going to get everybody’s best game and that’s OK. Hopefully, it helps prepare us to make sure that we’re sharp and playing our best always,” HSE head coach Greg Davidson said. “Anything less, then it’s not good enough for us.”
The Royals’ deficit wasn’t from a lack of effort or talent, as senior Cole Lance (Grand Valley State), junior Sydney Cook (Purdue), junior Sloane May (Michigan), senior Abby Straus (Ashland) and junior Kate Noel (Purdue) each fueled HSE’s 20 shots.
Junior Blair Satterfield, who is getting looks from Ball State and Butler, kept the Royals’ box unoccupied in front of goalkeeper Hannah Dodge, who finished with two saves against four shots on goal.
“Kudos to (Maudlin). She was absolutely amazing for Fishers. She stood on her head, made unbelievable saves. Goal-saving saves. There’s a difference of catching the ball and making a goal-saving save, and she had a few of those tonight,” Davidson said.
Sloane May proved the difference maker for HSE, as the forward lined three shots on goal and four shots, including the equalizer with 2:55 remaining.
May played a free-kick shot on goal from Straus and collected the rebound in front of the net to tie the game with her sixth goal of the season.
“We had a lot of opportunities. Abby (Straus) is one of our key players in playing those dangerous balls, and it really worked out. It was right time, right place,” May said.
“It was frustrating. I think our composure was a little bit off towards the beginning, and we were a little bit frantic. Second half, we had a lot more energy and we kind of just figured it out, but it was frustrating.”