By QUINN MATTHEWS
NOBLESVILLE – The Noblesville Millers took their first win of the season defeating Pendleton Heights 2-0 on Wednesday. The game remained tied in the first half as both teams are settling into the season and working to find their rhythm.
For the entire first half, the teams shared an even fight for possession, which maintained the 0-0 tie. Noblesville’s offense put the pressure on Pendleton Heights’ goalkeeper, who narrowly stopped several shots on goal. Pendleton’s defense pushed the ball up the field and created opportunities to score, where Noblesville’s defense stopped every attempt.
“It was a tough start but we started to figure it out about midway through the second half,” said first-year Noblesville coach Mitch Holden. “We needed to be a team, there were a lot of individual actions and people trying to force actions on the ball, I just told them to slow things down and be a team, connect passes and move the ball.”
After halftime, the Millers consistently maintained possession of the ball. The midfield kept the ball on the offensive half, and used the defense well to switch fields and make more productive plays. After an 80-minute stalemate, Sophie Hedges sent the ball down to Kendall Kramer who scored the first goal. Just three minutes later, Kate Hall assisted Brooklyn Gibbons to bury the ball into the far right corner to score the last goal of the match.
Pendleton put up a fight and didn’t make it an easy finish for the Millers. The Arabians had several breakaways with minutes left in the game but couldn’t finish to put points on the board. Pendleton and Noblesville now share 1-1 season records, and Noblesville walks away with not only the win, but high hopes.
“I think we’re going to watch the film, I think we’re going to see it, and I think it’s going to stick,” said Holden.
Noblesville plays next at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at Avon. Pendleton plays next at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25 at home against Lawrence North High School.