The Carmel girls soccer team won its first regional championship in four years on Saturday.
Playing at the Class 3A Brebeuf Jesuit regional, the No. 4-ranked Greyhounds first took care of Metropolitan Conference rival Lawrence North 2-0 in the afternoon semi-final. In the evening championship, Carmel beat Avon 2-0 to win the title.
“There are not many titles in Indiana high school sports that are physically more difficult to win than a regional title in soccer,” said ‘Hounds coach Frank Dixon. “Not only are the teams asked to play two soccer games in a day, one of them is asked to do that with about two hours less rest than their championship game opponent.”
Carmel’s semi-final game started late because the first semi-final between Avon and Franklin Central went into a penalty kick shootout, which the Orioles won 6-5. Once they got on the field, the Greyhounds dominated, outshooting the Wildcats 32-4.
Carmel scored its first goal in the 20th minute, with Kelsie James finding the back of the net from an Olivia Fray assist. James then assisted the Greyhounds’ second-half goal, which came in the 69th minute from Emily Speidel. Goalkeeper Erin Baker had two saves.
“We played well in the game and won but didn’t return to school until 3 p.m. only to turn around and re-board the bus at 5:30 to drive to our 7 p.m. finals game,” said Dixon. “When you take into consideration that a high school midfielder can run as much as seven miles in a game, some of my players ran the equivalent of four cross country races today. That would be difficult with a capital D.”
Carmel took on a surprising Avon team, which finished the season ranked 8-12-1 but wound its way into the regional final. But the Greyhounds were in firm control, outshooting the Orioles 35-3.
Both of Carmel’s goals were scored in the second half. Morgan Parker put in an assist from Ashley Witucki in the 47th minute, then Elyse Reed scored in the 64th minute from a Speidel assist. Baker had one save.
“Lots of kids to be proud of in today’s two wins,” said Dixon. “The defense added two more shutouts for a season total of 16 while our attackers broke down two stubborn defenses which were very committed to keeping us off the scoreboard.”
Carmel is now 18-1-2 for the season and will play another MIC rival, No. 8-ranked Center Grove, in the 3A south semi-state next Saturday. The site will be determined by the IHSAA today.
OTHER GAMES
The ninth-ranked Fishers girls team lost a tough 3A regional final at Logansport on Saturday, falling to No. 7 Homestead in a shootout 8-7.
The score was tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation and overtime, with both goals scored in the second half. Aubrey Robertson found the back of the net for the Tigers.
In the semi-finals, Fishers beat Harrison 2-0. Kaysey Castro scored a goal for the Tigers in the first half, then Delaney Whelan put in a second-half goal, assisted by Robertson.
Fishers finished its season with a 12-4-1 record.
After winning its own shootout in the semi-finals, the No. 4-ranked Hamilton Southeastern boys team lost to No. 6 Fort Wayne Carroll in the 3A Kokomo regional championship 1-0.
Just to get to the final, the Royals had to edge No. 17 Homestead in the semi-finals. The Spartans scored in the first half, but Southeastern tied the game in the second half.
Brendan Hench got the goal off an assist by Zaden Eby-Holmes off a corner kick by Chayton Davidson. The score remained the same through overtime, then the Royals won the penalty kick round 3-1. Jacob Kane had three saves in the shootout, and Sean Williams made the winning kick.
Southeastern finished its season with a 15-3-2 record.
University’s girls, ranked No. 10, dropped a 3-0 semi-final to third-ranked Lafayette Central Catholic in the 1A Northwestern regional.
The Trailblazers finished their season 13-4-2.
The Carmel girls soccer team won the Brebeuf Jesuit regional on Saturday. The Greyhounds beat Lawrence North in the semi-finals and Avon in the final, both by scores of 2-0. (Photo provided)