By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – The Noblesville girls soccer team won its 2023 home opener on Wednesday, beating Pendleton Heights 6-0.
It took the defending Class 3A state champion Millers a little bit to score their first goal, but they broke through in the 14th minute when Meredith Tippner put the ball in the net, assisted by Lily Ault. Less than a minute later, Atley Pittman added a goal for a 2-0 Noblesville lead. Ault then scored her own goal with 35 seconds left, giving the No. 2-ranked Millers a 3-0 halftime lead.
Noblesville added three more scores in the second half. Delaney Stone put in her first varsity goal in the 48th minute, with Pittman making the assist. Sydney Elliott scored the Millers’ fifth goal in the 55th minute, and Caylee Cunningham completed the scoring with 18:41 left.
“We still have a long season ahead of us and we play in the toughest conference in the state,” said Noblesville coach Mike Brady. That would be the Hoosier Crossroads Conference, and the Millers open HCC play next week with games against Avon next Wednesday (Aug. 23) and Hamilton Southeastern on Aug. 26.
“Pendleton Heights battled,” said Brady. “We got the better of them, but nobody walks off this field thinking we’re ready to go into sectionals. We have a lot of work to do, but it’s good to get a victory and it’s always good to play at home.”
Noblesville is 2-0 for the season, having won its season opener against 3A No. 9 Cathedral 3-1 last Saturday. The Millers’ game with West Lafayette that was scheduled for Saturday is canceled.
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Hamilton Southeastern, the No. 3 team in 3A, began its HCC campaign Tuesday. with a 9-0 home victory over Franklin Central.
Sloane May and Norah Wans both scored two goals, with May dishing out two assists. Ayla Conn, Kayla Hoener, Riley Boyd, Alyssa Damson and Izzy Kistler all put in one goal, with Conn, Damson, Boyd and Gracie Pyle each making one assist.
Southeastern coach Greg Davidson said the Royals played well and capitalized on their opportunities. Meanwhile, the HSE defense held the Flashes to no shots on goal.
The Royals are 1-0-1 and will travel to South Bend this weekend and take on 2A No. 1 Evansville Memorial, 3A No. 5 Homestead and Warsaw.
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In an all-county battle, 3A No. 20 Westfield beat 3A No. 14 Fishers 2-0 at the Shamrocks’ field on Tuesday in an HCC game.
“The Rocks played a great game from start to finish,” said Westfield coach Hannah Eggert, who saw her team open the season with this game. “Lindsey Cassady played a great ball into the box to cause an own goal.” Kate Malin scored the Shamrocks’ second goal, with Brynn Sargent making the assist.
The Shamrocks play at Plainfield Saturday afternoon. Fishers is 1-2 and plays Monday at Cathedral.
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In boys soccer action, 3A No. 4 Fishers hosted Westfield on Tuesday, with the Tigers beating the Shamrocks 3-1.
Fishers scored all three of their goals in the first half, with Kyle Clayton putting in all three. Reid Spittler and Ethan Laboy both made one assist.
The Tigers are 2-0, with both of those wins HCCgGames. Fishers will play Saturday morning at Harrison. Tuesday’s game was the first of the season for Westfield, which plays at 3A No. 10 Pike on Saturday afternoon.
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University’s girls soccer team tied with Lawrence Central 1-1 on Wednesday.
The Trailblazers’ next game is Saturday morning at Eastern.