IHSAA boys soccer Fab 15: Re-ranking Central Indiana's best teams a month into 2023 season

brian haenchen, indianapolis star

Tue, Sep 5, 2023, 2:41 PM·6 min read

A number of the top Central Indiana boys soccer teams have already gone head-to-head, so the timing felt right for another Fab 15. Here's a re-ranking of the area's top 15 teams as we pass the midway point of the fall campaign.

1. Carmel (5-0-1)

Carmel Greyhound Hayden Warneke (14) and Pike’s Griffin Weaver fight for a ball Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2022, at Carmel High School.

Previous rank (preseason): 1

The Greyhounds are who we thought they were — a really stinkin' good team. The first leg of their schedule consisted of No. 3 Zionsville, No. 9 Pike, No. 2 Noblesville, Greenfield-Central, Class 2A No. 1 Brebeuf Jesuit and No. 7 Fishers, and they made it through unbeaten (tied Noblesville in dramatic fashion). Carmel averages about a goal against per game (it has had two shutouts, though), but the offense is potent with Christian Nielsen and Hayden Warneke tied for the team-lead with five goals apiece, followed closely by Johnny Gourley with four.

Lawrence North travels to Carmel on Tuesday, looking to make a statement amidst its strong start to the season, then it's 3A runner-up Columbus North on Friday.

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2. Noblesville (4-0-5)

Noblesville Millers Sam Holland poses for a photo Tuesday, August 9, 2023, at Noblesville Elementary School in Noblesville.

PR: 2

The Millers are already over halfway through their regular-season schedule, and are coming off back-to-back 1-1 draws (Fishers and Brownsburg) entering Tuesday's match vs. Westfield. Sam Holland has been doing standard Sam Holland things — eight goals, including all his team's goals against Carmel, Brebeuf and Brownsburg — but freshman Ben Hewitt has been making a splash with five goals in seven games.

Noblesville's remaining schedule (seven games) includes Zionsville, Hamilton Southeastern, Castle and Center Grove.

3. Center Grove (6-0-1)

PR: 9

The Trojans emphasized defense entering the season. They have allowed just three goals through their first seven games, with four shutouts and no outings with multiple goals allowed. The schedule has included Brebeuf, No. 12 Bloomington South, Castle and Columbus North, and will continue with Cathedral on Thursday.

Kentucky commit Ely Detty leads the team with eight goals and four assists.

4. Brownsburg (3-0-3)

Brownsburg Bulldogs Weston Bradley poses for a photo Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at River Road Park in Carmel.

PR: 3

The Bulldogs had back-to-back 4-4 ties in late August: HSE (that one was wild with Grant Porath capping his hat trick with the game-tying goal late) and Southport. They played Noblesville to a 1-1 draw last Thursday. Brownsburg will have a chance to build momentum this week with Avon and Warren Central leading into next Tuesday's trip to Fishers.

Grant Porath and Weston Bradley have been expectedly excellent, with Porath accounting for 11 goals and five assists, and Bradley adding seven goals and four assists.

5. Zionsville (3-2-1)

PR: 4

The Eagles — who surrendered the game-winning goal late in the opener vs. Camel — went 1-1-1 last week with a loss to Westfield, a win over Bloomington North and a draw against Hobart. They have Franklin Central on Tuesday and a Saturday tournament doubleheader before playing Noblesville and HSE on consecutive Tuesdays.

6. Pike (8-1)

Pike High School sophomore Luke Smith (35) tries to get a shot around the defense of Brownsburg High School junior Kaden Steckel (0) during the second half of an IHSAA varsity soccer Sectional Championship game, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at Brownsburg High School. Pike won 2-1 in overtime.

PR: 10

The Red Devils have won eight games since a 2-0 loss to Carmel in the season opener. It hasn't been the toughest schedule, but they have beaten Westfield and Cathedral, with Ben Davis and Lawrence North — both teams are on a roll — and the Marion County Tournament still to go.

7. Hamilton Southeastern (4-1-2)

Hamilton Southeastern's Drew MacDonald (13)

PR: 5

The Royals bounced back from a 4-1 loss to No. 19 Harrison with a 2-0 triumph over Brebeuf on Saturday. Their schedule is a lot more balanced than most of the other 3A teams in their neck of the woods with Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville and Carmel spaced out in September (shortest break is five days between Noblesville and Zionsville).

Ten players have points for HSE this season, with eight of their 11 assists coming from senior Drew MacDonald (5) and Cruz Jafri.

8. Fishers (3-2-2)

Fishers Tigers Kyle Clayton (7) rushes after the ball Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, at Fishers High School in Fishers. The Hamilton Southeastern Royals defeated the Fishers Tigers, 2-4.

PR: 6

The Tigers are in an interesting spot heading into Tuesday's Mudsock game vs. HSE. They played Noblesville to a 1-1 draw, then lost to Carmel, 5-1, last week, and are 1-2-2 over their past five games with 11 goals allowed. There is the standard strength of schedule caveat, and Fishers has a pair of top-notch attackers in senior Kyle Clayton (seven goals, eight assists) and junior Reid Spittler (five goals, four assists). 10 different players have points for FHS thus far.

9. Brebeuf Jesuit (4-2-1)

PR: 8

The Braves have held their own against a stacked schedule, with their first multi-goal loss coming Saturday vs. HSE (2-0 final). They played Noblesville to a 1-1 draw, and lost 2-1 against both Center Grove and Carmel. This week is sneaky tough with Cathedral, Covenant Christian (4-3; has a prolific forward in Josh Byrd) and Lawrence Central (6-0-1, Brebeuf will be its first major test of the year).

10. Cathedral (4-3)

PR: 7

Last Saturday was rough with losses to Pike and North Central, but the Irish bounced back with a rout of Guerin and a 2-1 triumph over Columbus North. This is a statement week upcoming with Brebeuf (Tuesday), Center Grove (Thursday) and Homestead (Saturday).

The tandem of Cal Kurzawa and Fynn Lahrsen has been tremendous on the attack. Sophomore Quinn Bateman has also been very good, tallying four assists.

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11. Speedway (6-0)

Speedway Sparkplugs Joey Heaviland (9) kicks the ball against Cascade Cadets Ari Moore (10) on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, during the game at Cascade High School in Clayton. The Speedway Sparkplugs defeated the Cascade Cadets, 2-1.

PR: 12

The Sparkplugs scored a pair of second-half goals to add No. 13 Cascade to a resume that already includes No. 6 West Lafayette and Class A No. 2 Covenant Christian. Getting the Park Tudor game back on the schedule (postponed due to heat) would certainly help prepare this team for sectionals, but Speedway still has the Marion County Tournament and Ben Davis ahead.

Eleven players have points, including Joey Heaviland and Sam Harmon, who lead the team in assists.

12. Heritage Christian (5-0)

LW: 11

We should have a much better read on the Eagles after this upcoming seven-day stretch, which includes Covenant Christian, 3A's Roncalli, No. 17 Muncie Burris and Brebeuf.

Heritage Christian boasts a 26-9 goal differential.

13. Westfield (3-3)

PR: NR

Making a futures play on the Rocks, who split their two matches last week with a win over Zionsville and loss to Brebeuf. They have yet to be shutout this year, and have a roster consisting almost entirely of juniors and seniors. Westfield has Noblesville and a tournament this week, then embarks on a two-week stretch featuring HSE, Carmel, Brownsburg and Harrison.

Oliver Church had four goals through the first four games; Tyler Deiwert, Grant Myers and Liam Lara all had two.

14. Guerin Catholic (2-5)

PR: 14

Brutally tough schedule for the Golden Eagles, but they beat Park Tudor and Chatard, and held their own against Castle (L, 2-1), Heritage Christian (2-1) and Brebeuf (2-0). The difficulty further ramps up this week with Roncalli, HSE and Center Grove on the docket.

15. Ben Davis (5-1-2)