Ever since the IHSAA girls soccer tournament began in 1994, no school has made more appearances in the state championship game than Carmel.
The Greyhounds are in the state final game for the 12th time, and will be going for their first state championship since 2011 on Saturday night in the Class 3A final. No. 4-ranked Carmel plays No. 7 Homestead at 6 p.m. Saturday at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium, the final game of the IHSAA’s soccer state championship weekend.
The ‘Hounds come into the state championship game with a 19-1-2 record. Their only loss of the year was to Fishers 1-0 on Aug. 25; the ties were 0-0 against Guerin Catholic on Aug. 18 and 1-1 against Noblesville on Sept. 17.
Carmel’s run through the tournament has been drama-free. The Greyhounds won the Guerin Catholic sectional by beating Brebeuf Jesuit 3-0, the No. 18 host Golden Eagles 1-0 and Zionsville 2-0. Carmel took the Brebeuf Jesuit regional over Lawrence North 2-0 and Avon 2-0, then won the Seymour semi-state over No. 8 Center Grove 3-0.
The Greyhounds’ offense has been spread around this season, with five players scoring at least five goals. Junior Kelsie James has nine goals and also leads in assists with 10. Junior Emma Antonie and freshman Emily Roper both have seven goals, with senior Emily Speidel scoring six and senior Ashley Witucki having five. Speidel also has six assists. Sophomore goalkeeper Erin Baker has 43 saves, 17 shutouts and a 0.158 goals against average (GAA).
Meanwhile, Homestead is making its second appearance in the state finals. The Spartans reached the final in 2001, falling to Carmel (who else?) 1-0. That was during a run of five consecutive state titles for the Greyhounds (2000-04).
Homestead is 18-3 for the season. The Spartans won their first seven games of the year before dropping three straight. Since then, Homestead hasn’t lost.
The Spartans began their run to state by winning the Warsaw sectional over Fort Wayne Wayne 7-1 and the No. 15-ranked host 1-0 in overtime. Homestead took the Logansport regional over No. 14 Fort Wayne Carroll 5-4 and outlasted No. 9 Fishers in an 8-7 shootout. The Spartans beat No. 12 Valparaiso 2-1 to win the South Bend St. Joseph semi-state.
Homestead has four girls that have scored at least 10 goals. Senior Morgan Halliwill has 24 goals, with two freshmen each finding the back of the net 16 times: Mary McArdle and Amelia White. Junior Lauren Moellering has 12 goals and 12 assists; Halliwill has 11 assists. Senior goalkeeper Samantha Castaneda has 72 saves, 12 shutouts and a 0.62 GAA.
Carmel Notables
- Carmel girls soccer team making state-best 13th appearance in the state finals and seeking record-extending 10th state crown.
- Greyhounds have won 10 consecutive matches entering Saturday night’s match.
- Head coach Frank Dixon, in his 28th season with the program, would also claim a state-best 10th title with a victory on Saturday. He is a graduate of Hammond Bishop Noll whose boys team is making its initial appearance in the 2A state finals this weekend.
- Dixon celebrated his 500th coaching victory in his team’s 5-0 win at Ben Davis on Aug. 20.
- Team returned six starters from last year’s team that finished 15-2-2.
- Greyhounds have not allowed a goal in their last nine matches going back to a 3-1 victory over Brebeuf Jesuit on Sept. 20.
- Defeated Class 2A state finalist Indianapolis Cathedral 1-0 in their home opener on Aug. 25.
- Champions of the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference with a 7-0-0 record this season.
Soccer State Tournament History
- IHSAA Membership: 1904-07, 1909-present
- First Soccer State Tournament Appearance: 1994 (first year of tournament)
- State Champion (9) 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2011 (2A)
- Runner-Up (2) 1996, 2014 (2A)
- State Finals Appearances (13) 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2011 (2A), 2014 (2A), 2018 (3A)
- Semi-State Championships (11) 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2011 (2A), 2014 (2A), 2018 (3A)
- Regional Championships (14) 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011 (2A), 2014 (2A), 2018 (3A)
- Sectional Championships (15) 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011 (2A), 2014 (2A), 2018 (3A)
School’s IHSAA State Championship History (144)
Carmel will be playing for its second state championship this school year having won its third consecutive boys tennis title two weeks ago at North Central High School.
Homestead Notables
- Homestead making school’s fourth appearance in the girls state finals and first in 15 years.
- Spartans hoping to score school’s first soccer state championship on Saturday night.
- Homestead returned six starters from last season’s 6-8-4 squad.
- Head Coach Rick Link is in the fourth year in charge of the team having served three seasons as an assistant coach previously.
Soccer State Tournament History
- IHSAA Membership: 1970-present
- First Soccer State Tournament Appearance: 1994 (first year of tournament)
- Runner-Up (1) 2001
- State Finals Appearances (4) 1996, 2001, 2003, 2018 (3A)
- Semi-State Champion (4) 1996, 2001, 2003, 2018 (3A)
- Regional Champion (11) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2013 (2A), 2018 (3A)
- Sectional Champion (18) 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011 (2A), 2012 (2A), 2013 (2A), 2014 (2A), 2015 (2A), 2018 (3A)
School’s IHSAA State Championship History (8)
- Boys Basketball (1) 2015 (4A)
- Girls Basketball (1) 2017 (4A)
- Girls Gymnastics (6) 1983, 1984, 1985, 1996, 1999, 2001
State Tournament Schedule
- 1A Boys final: Covenant Christian vs. Canterbury, 6 p.m. Friday
- 2A Boys final: Cardinal Ritter vs. Bishop Noll, 8:15 p.m. Friday
- 1A Girls final: Evansville Mater Dei vs. Wheeler, 10:30 a.m. Saturday
- 2A Girls final: Cathedral vs. South Bend St. Joseph, 1 p.m. Saturday
- 3A Boys final: Zionsville vs. Chesterton, 3:30 p.m. Saturday
- 3A Girls final: Carmel vs. Homestead, 6 p.m. Saturday
General Information
- TICKETS: $10 per person. All seats general admission. Children age 2 or younger are free of charge. Tickets may be purchased in advance at participating schools the week of the state finals. Contact schools for ticket distribution hours. Tickets also will be available at the northwest corner ticket booth along New York Street adjacent to Carroll Stadium.
- PARKING: Spectator parking is available for $10 per vehicle. The Barnhill Garage at IUPUI which is located just north of the main ticket entrance on New York Street will be credit cards only while surface parking lots will accept cash.
- GATES OPEN: Gates open beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday and 9:30 a.m. on Saturday (one hour prior to kickoff).
- WEBCAST: All six matches will be streamed live by the IHSAA Champions Network at org.