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Indiana high school boys soccer: Indy-area's top forwards to watch in 2023

brian haenchen, indianapolis star
·2 min read

IndyStar is highlighting returning boys soccer players to watch by position before unveiling the 2023 preseason ALL-USA Super Team next week.

Today's position group: Forwards.

Jean Anelson Azard, Pike

An all-state pick last season, Azard netted 21 goals and 10 assists, lifting Pike to its first sectional championship since 2016. He had two goals in the sectional final vs. Brownsburg.

IHSAA boys soccer: Indy-area's top defenders to watch in 2023

IHSAA boys soccer: Indy-area's top goalies to watch in 2023

Kyle Clayton, Fishers

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.
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.

Clayton led the Tigers in goals (22) and assists (10). The IUPUI commit scored Fishers' lone goal against both Westfield (draw) and Hamilton Southeastern (win), and registered an assist in a 2-1 win over Brownsburg.

Ely Detty, Center Grove

The Kentucky commit matched his goal total from the previous season (17), but more than doubled his assist output with 16 for the sectional champs. Detty has 41 career goals and 27 career assists.

Sam Holland, Noblesville

A fourth-year varsity standout, Holland helped lead the Millers' attack with 13 goals and eight assists. His season included a hat trick vs. Plainfield (one of four multi-goal efforts), and pushed his career totals to 18 goals and 15 assists.

Cal Kurzawa, Cathedral

Indianapolis Arsenal Technical midfielder Edwin Molina (10) rushes after the ball against Cathedral Fighting Irish Calvin Kurzawa (9) on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis Arsenal Technical midfielder Edwin Molina (10) rushes after the ball against Cathedral Fighting Irish Calvin Kurzawa (9) on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis.

Kurazawa tallied 17 goals and 11 assists over 15 games for the regional champion Irish. He scored the lone goal in a sectional win over Lawrence North, and their only goal against Columbus North at semistate.

Eli Miller, Roncalli

The speedy Miller netted 15 goals and three assists last season, netting all-district and Circle City all-conference honors in the process.

Grant Porath, Brownsburg

Pike High School senior Cesar Morales-Juarez (0) slides to cover the ball as Brownsburg High School junior Grant Porath (11) closes in on him during the first half of an IHSAA varsity soccer Sectional Championship game, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at Brownsburg High School.
Pike High School senior Cesar Morales-Juarez (0) slides to cover the ball as Brownsburg High School junior Grant Porath (11) closes in on him during the first half of an IHSAA varsity soccer Sectional Championship game, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at Brownsburg High School.

Porath, all-state honoree, doubled his goal total from his sophomore season, finishing with 20 goals plus 12 assists for the sectional runner-up Bulldogs, who went 12-3-3 on the year. He has 37 goals and 88 points for his career.

Logan Puls, Hamilton Southeastern

Hamilton Southeastern Royals Logan Puls (9) and Hamilton Southeastern Royals midfielder Logan Wright (11) celebrates a goal Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, at Fishers High School in Fishers. The Hamilton Southeastern Royals defeated the Fishers Tigers, 2-4.
Hamilton Southeastern Royals Logan Puls (9) and Hamilton Southeastern Royals midfielder Logan Wright (11) celebrates a goal Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, at Fishers High School in Fishers. The Hamilton Southeastern Royals defeated the Fishers Tigers, 2-4.

The senior striker scored 15 goals last season, highlighted by a hat trick in a sectional victory against rival Fishers. That was the third of three hat tricks on the year for Puls, who also netted three goals against Homestead and had four against Pendleton Heights.

Kervens Saint Paul, Speedway

The senior striker made quite the splash in his first varsity season, racking up 27 goals and seven assists. He scored three-plus goals in five games, and netted at least a point in 15 of the Sparkplugs' 19 games.

Hayden Warneke, Carmel

The Greyhounds' leading returning scorer, Warnecke logged seven goals and three assists over 20 games played.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA boys soccer: Indy-area's top forwards to watch in 2023