Soccer season began Saturday in Hamilton County with a full slate of games, including one between two of the best girls programs in the state.
Carmel, last year’s Class 3A runner-up, traveled to Hamilton Southeastern for a morning contest, and the Royals won 4-1. Southeastern scored the lone goal of the first half, with four players getting involved: Cole Lance passed to Tatum Coleman, and she sent the ball to Sloane May, who delivered to Caroline Kelley for the goal.
Kelley scored again with 25 minutes left in the second half, with Coleman making the assist. Carmel got on the board at the 15-minute mark when Ava Albright found the back of the net off an Olivia Cebalo assist. The Royals answered with two goals in the game’s final 10 minutes: Kelley got her third goal on a penalty kick and Lance finished the scoring with HSE’s fourth goal.
“Great win for the Royals against a world class program,” said Southeastern coach Greg Davidson. “Hailey Wade earns Player of the Game honors for three amazing saves on the night that kept Carmel from getting back in the game.”
The Greyhounds host Plainfield on Monday, while the Royals open Hoosier Crossroads Conference play Wednesday at Franklin Central.
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Noblesville’s girls team sailed past Cathedral in its home opener, beating the Irish 4-0 at Hallmark Orthodontics Soccer Complex.
Sydney Elliott put the Millers on the board in the game’s second minute, making her first-ever varsity goal. Ava Bramblett dished out the assist.
Noblesville led 1-0 at halftime, but erupted for three goals in the second half. Meskerem James converted a penalty kick in the 47th minute, then delivered a cross to Meredith Tippner, who put the ball in for Noblesville’s third goal.
Bramblett completed the scoring, getting the Millers’ fourth goal off an assist by Nadia Zaborowski. Delaney Martin got the Noblesville goalkeeper shutout.
The Millers play again next Saturday at West Lafayette.
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Fishers’ girls team also cruised in its opener, taking care of McCutcheon 7-0.
Anna Pettit scored the Tigers’ first goal of the game. Lilly Touhy got the second goal off an assist by Kennedy Hurst, then Pettit scored on a header off a Sienna Mullen free kick. Touhy put Fishers up 4-0 on a pass by Elise May; that would be the halftime score.
May opened up the scoring in the second half, extending Fishers’ lead to 5-0. Emmy Streeter added the sixth goal and Emerson Huneck completed the Tigers’ scoring with the seventh goal.
Fishers hosts Pendleton on Monday.
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The Fishers boys team began its season with a 7-1 win over Hoosier Crossroads Conference opponent Franklin Central.
Kyle Clayton scored four goals, with Noah Reinhart adding two and Santi Morales scoring one.
The Tigers play another HCC game Tuesday at Westfield.
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Hamilton Southeastern’s boys team beat Mount Vernon 3-1 in an away game to open its season.
The Royals host Cathedral on Tuesday.
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The Carmel boys team opened its season by playing to a 0-0 tie with Zionsville at Murray Stadium.
Adam Keleher got the shutout in goal for the Greyhounds.
“There’s a lot that we know that we need to work on and there’s also a lot that was already there that we can just continue to hone in and make a little bit better,” said Carmel coach Shane Schmidt.
The ‘Hounds play Monday at Pike.