The REPORTER
The Indiana Soccer Coaches Association released its pre-season polls this week, and to no one’s surprise, Hamilton County teams were all over the lists.
This year’s pre-season rankings are even more impressive than usual, though. In the Girls Class 3A list, local teams have claimed the top four positions. Defending state champion Noblesville is ranked first, while its longtime Sectional 8 and Hoosier Crossroads Conference rival Hamilton Southeastern is rated second.
Carmel, a sectional champion last year, holds the No. 3 ranking. Westfield is fourth; the Shamrocks’ program has been steadily on the rise for years. Those two teams both play in Sectional 9 again this season.
In Class 2A, defending state champion Guerin Catholic is correctly ranked No. 1. The Golden Eagles broke through for their first-ever state title last season with a 1-0 win over Leo. Hamilton Heights is rated No. 17 in 2A.
Meanwhile, the Hamilton County Class 3A boys soccer teams hold exactly one quarter of the ranking spots in that pre-season poll: all five teams are ranked in the top 20. Leading the way is Noblesville, the top-rated team and three-time defending state champion. Carmel is ranked No. 2 in the 3A boys pre-season poll. The Millers and the Greyhounds have been grouped in the same sectional (#9) this season.
Fishers is ranked No. 4 in the 3A poll, while its Mudsock rival Hamilton Southeastern is rated No. 14. Those schools both remain in Sectional 8. Westfield is ranked No. 20; the Rocks play in Sectional 9.
In the smaller classes, Guerin Catholic is ranked No. 2 in boys’ Class 2A, while Hamilton Heights is rated No. 16. University’s boys are rated No. 15 in Class 1A.
Here is a complete list of pre-season rankings.
GIRLS CLASS 3A
- Noblesville
- Hamilton Southeastern
- Carmel
- Westfield
- Castle
- Crown Point
- Cathedral
- Penn
- Fort Wayne Carroll
- Evansville Memorial
- Brownsburg
- Bloomington South
- East Central
- Evansville Reitz
- Chesterton
- Northridge
- Zionsville
- Homestead
- Center Grove
- Munster
BOYS CLASS 3A
- Noblesville
- Carmel
- Zionsville
- Fishers
- Center Grove
- Cathedral
- Lake Central
- Bloomington South
- Pike
- Columbus North
- Northridge
- Fort Wayne Carroll
- Goshen
- Hamilton Southeastern
- Harrison
- Crown Point
- Brownsburg
- Castle
- Munster
- Westfield
GIRLS CLASS 2A
- Guerin Catholic
- Bishop Dwenger
- Mishawaka Marian
- Bellmont
- Brebeuf Jesuit
- Bishop Chatard
- Lawrenceburg
- Gibson Southern
- West Lafayette
- Tri-West
- Heritage Hills
- Bishop Noll
- Washington
- NorthWood
- Hanover Central
- Park Tudor
- Hamilton Heights
- Silver Creek
- Danville
- Fort Wayne Canterbury
BOYS CLASS 2A
- Evansville Memorial
- Guerin Catholic
- Illiana Christian
- Bishop Luers
- Speedway
- Concordia Lutheran
- Heritage Christian
- Heritage Hills
- West Lafayette
- Bishop Dwenger
- Washington
- Cascade
- Bishop Noll
- Culver Academies
- Park Tudor
- Hamilton Heights
- Leo
- Southridge
- West Noble
- Hanover Central
GIRLS CLASS 1A
- Providence
- Evansville Mater Dei
- Heritage Christian
- Evansville Christian
- Oldenburg Academy
- Faith Christian
- Trinity
- Andrean
- Bremen
- Forest Park
- Westview
- Southmont
- Argos
- Tipton
- Greencastle
- Switzerland County
- Wheeler
- Bethany Christian
- Covenant Christian
- Bethesda Christian
BOYS CLASS 1A
- Bethany Christian
- Providence
- Covenant Christian
- Faith Christian
- Westview
- Greenwood Christian
- Fort Wayne Canterbury
- Forest Park
- Wheeler
- Oldenburg Academy
- Covington
- Southwestern Shelby
- Blackhawk Christian
- Muncie Burris
- University
- Carroll
- Northwest Dubois
- North Putnam
- Rock Creek Academy
- Trinity