The Hamilton Southeastern girls soccer team won its first-ever state championship on Saturday, Nov. 1 at IU Indianapolis’ Michael A. Carroll Stadium. The Royals beat Carmel 1-0. (Julie Brown)
By RICHARD TORRES
For The Reporter
INDIANAPOLIS – Fourteen years was long enough.
For the first time in program history, the Hamilton Southeastern girls soccer program achieved its “ultimate goal,” and it took one late-clutch goal Saturday, Nov. 1 during the IHSAA state finals to finish the job.
Making their first state finals appearance since 2011, the top-ranked Class 3A Royals (22-0-1) found an opportunity in the 75th minute against third-ranked Carmel (19-3-1) at Michael A. Carroll Stadium, and senior forward Riley Boyd didn’t miss.
With HSE caught in a scoreless tie during its backyard brawl against county rival Carmel, a clearing miscue by Greyhound goalkeeper Gwyneth Provost just outside the penalty area that struck a defender supplied Boyd with a shot at state-championship immortality.
As the ball bounced free, and even deeper into the penalty area, both Boyd and Provost sprinted to possess, but a right-footed strike pushed the ball more than 15 yards and slowly into the back of the net.
“I was nervous because I had the wide-open goal, and it’s not like I hesitated, but I was a little slow to kick it. I thought she was going to get it,” Boyd said. “She tried diving for it, and luckily, it went right past here and just trickled into the goal.”
As Boyd raised her arms in celebration with 5:36 remaining, the weight of the Royals’ past steadily lifted following 12 years of sectional setbacks – primarily against archrival Noblesville – and season upon season of woulda, coulda, shoulda.
“I think it was just frustration that got to us, and we knew we were the team to get this done, and we wanted it more than anything,” Boyd said. “I think the motivation we kept on the field and off the field, through practice and throughout school, we just kept it going.”
Carmel finished as runner-up at state. It was the 17th time the Greyhounds have reached a state championship game. (Julie Brown)
HSE reached the 2A semi-state in 2012 with a chance at a repeat state finals berth, but the Royals fell short after losing to Carmel, 1-0, in the previous 2A state championship game.
This time, the Royals prevailed, winning their ninth straight game and first-ever state title while handing the Greyhounds their fourth consecutive state finals loss – each by one goal.
“It was a misplayed ball. No one’s fault. Shouldn’t have happened, but it happens,” Carmel coach John Simmonds said. “We could have finished some chances and not had to worry about that costing us the game, so it’s on us, and we’ll accept it.”
The Royals locked in to protect their lead by recording their 18th shutout victory and junior goalkeeper Hannah Dodge’s 16th clean sheet of the season.
“One thing we talk about is next five, which is keeping up the tempo for the next five minutes,” HSE senior Sloane May said. “Just putting in that last effort and every ounce of effort in every scenario.”
Dodge provided the effort with six saves, specifically in the 58th minute, as Carmel attacked with nine of their 12 shots in the second half.
Carmel senior Adalyn Cameron launched one of her four shots on goal at Dodge, who reacted with a kick save to maintain the scoreless tie.
“It was kind of unreal. I just, honestly, kicked my leg out for the best. When it’s that close, you just kind of do what you can and hope that you make the save,” Dodge said. “I wonder how I do that sometimes? Yeah, go back and watch it, put it in my highlight reel.”
HSE fired six shots each period and five shots on goal, while both teams nearly split possession throughout the tug-of-war rematch.
On Aug. 16, the Royals won 3-1 over the Greyhounds. At the state finals, HSE entered the match ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. Carmel was ranked third in the nation.
“I knew that Carmel had improved since we had seen them,” HSE coach Greg Davidson said. “But I know our girls, the environment did not overwhelm them. They came to play.”
The team’s traditional pregame brunch mentally kept the HSE players loose. For Davidson, 29 years of frustration were quelled by his support network.
Once Davidson held the championship trophy, gratitude overcame the 30-year coaching veteran, who collected his first-career state title.
“I just thank God for giving me the energy and the mindset and the love of the game to keep going on. I thank my family for continuing to support me,” Davidson said. “You get close in 2011 … but I truly believe that we were the best team in the state this year.”
