By RICHIE HALL
FISHERS – The Noblesville boys soccer team defended its Class 3A Sectional 8 championship Saturday at the Fishers football field.
The No. 7 Millers beat No. 5 Hamilton Southeastern 3-0 to win their 15th sectional in program history. Noblesville scored its first goal in the 22nd minute, with Sam Holland putting the ball in from the goal box. Holland got another goal early in the second half, scoring to put the Millers up 2-0 with 35:39 left to play.
“Our past two training sessions Thursday and Friday have probably been the best two we’ve had all season,” said Millers coach Ken Dollaske. “They’ve been focused, they’ve had lots of energy, they are working together as a team. So, I had a feeling that if we kept that going today, that it could be the type of game that we saw.”
“Whenever coach says that we can play good, it gives us a boost,” said Holland. “We can just come in, play the same way we train, and when we train with confidence, it’s going to go straight to the game.”
Pavlos Michaeloff got the Millers’ third goal with 8:37 left to play.
Noblesville improved to 12-3-3 and will host the Regional 4 semi-final on Wednesday, taking on Warsaw, the Sectional 7 champion.
‘Hounds cruise to win
Top-ranked Carmel sailed to its 15th sectional title, defending the 3A Sectional 10 crown by beating Herron 7-0 at Murray Stadium.
Seven different Greyhounds players scored one goal each: Will Latham, Josiah Shepson, Nick Basso, Connor Dora, Hayden Warneke, Drew Thomson and John Gilbert. Warneke had two assists, while Exode Minga, Davis Dilling and Nick Wu all had one assist. Adam Keleher and Jacob Havice combined for the shutout.
“We were a bit pedestrian in the first half and lacked a sense of urgency,” said Carmel coach Shane Schmidt. “I thought we came out in the second half and controlled all facets of the game.”
The Greyhounds are 14-2-3 and host No. 8 Pike, the Sectional 9 champion, on Wednesday in the Regional 5 semi-final.
GC falls to Brebeuf
Guerin Catholic fell to No. 3-ranked Brebeuf Jesuit 3-0 in the championship game of Class 2A Sectional 26 at Tri-West on Saturday.
The Golden Eagles finished their season 4-10-1.
Panthers edge ‘Blazers
Third-ranked University lost a tough game to No. 2 Park Tudor, 1-0 in overtime, Saturday at the Class 1A Sectional 40 championship at the Panthers’ field.
The game was tied through regulation and the first of two overtimes. Park Tudor scored late in the second overtime off a corner kick.
The Trailblazers finished their season 14-3-2.