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What to know about Bloomington-area IHSAA boys' soccer sectionals

jim gordillo, the herald-times
·5 min read

Boys' soccer sectionals kickoff on Monday so let's take a look at the roadblocks and what it will take for the area's six teams to make a run at a sectional title:

Class 3A at Terre Haute South

SCHEDULE — Monday: Martinsville (10-5-2) vs. Terre Haute North (8-7), 6 p.m.; Bloomington South (12-1-1) vs. Bloomington North (8-5-5), 8 p.m. Wednesday (semifinals): Martinsville/THN winner vs. North/South winner, 6 p.m.; Terre Haute South (5-9-3) vs. Center Grove (12-2-2), 8 p.m. Saturday, championship, 2 p.m.

OUTLOOK — No. 5 Center Grove could not have asked for a better draw and certainly didn't need the help after drawing a bye and the team that finished last in Conference Indiana in the semifinals. Two long bus rides are certainly better than three. The Trojans are giving up just under one goal a game, with losses only to 2A No. 13 Guerin Catholic (2-1) and 3A No. 1 Noblesville (5-2). No. 9 Columbus North and No. 12 Cathedral managed ties. CG beat both North and South decisively this season. Two CG standouts to keep an eye on are Ely Detty (25 goals, 12 assists) and Matheus Gubert (11 goals). Either North or South are hoping to get a shot, but it's a tough road to get there as they open against each other. South won the regular season meeting 2-0. Then comes a likely showdown with Martinsville. The Artesians have a strong sophomore class led by Charlie Rawlins (12) and Will Payton (7) while senior Martin Barco (8), a track star in the 800 and 1,600, joins them as Martinsville's leading scorers. South's top scorers are Joe DeGiorgio (16) and Landon Ryner (10) while Joe Luther has 17 goals and Jaafer Zaneer 9 for North. South has allowed just three goals in its last seven games and posted seven shutouts on the season. North ended the season with three straight 1-1 ties before a 4-2 loss to CG, but finished with its most wins since 2016.

Edgewood’s Kade Gilchrist (11) dribbles across the field against Eastern Greene’s Roman Valentine (19) during their soccer match at Edgewood on Thursday, August 31, 2023.
Edgewood’s Kade Gilchrist (11) dribbles across the field against Eastern Greene’s Roman Valentine (19) during their soccer match at Edgewood on Thursday, August 31, 2023.

Class 2A at Northview

SCHEDULE — Monday: Edgewood (6-6-2) vs. West Vigo (3-10-2), 5:45 p.m.; Brown County (1-8-1) vs. Northview (6-8), 7:30 p.m. Tuesday: South Vermillion (4-6-2) vs. Owen Valley (3-8-1), 5:30 p.m.; Greencastle (11-3-1) vs. Indian Creek (7-5-1), 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (semifinals): Edgewood/West Vigo winner vs. BC/Northview winner, 5:30 p.m.; SV/OV winner vs. Greencastle/IC winner, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, championship, 2 p.m.

OUTLOOK — There's a whole new outlook for Edgewood heading into this year's sectional after a season of marked improvement, more scoring and a much better record. They are also in a position to make a run to the final, but the opener figures to be a stubborn one as the Mustangs and Vikings just played to a 3-3 conference tie that had to be decided by PKs in Edgewood's favor. The Mustangs won in similar circumstances against its likely semi-foe, the host Knights after a 2-2 tie. Owen Valley did not score in four of its last five games. The Patriots face a team that went 1-3-2 down the stretch but did play several WIC teams tough. All said, No. 16 Greencastle remains the strong favorite. The WIC runner-ups to North Putnam didn't allow a goal in the run of play, falling only to the Cougars in PKs. Their only other losses were to 1A No. 9 Covington in the first match of the season and 1-0 to Terre Haute North in the finale. Sophomore Micah Foss has 32 goals for the Tiger Cubs.

Eastern Greene’s Clara Hawk (sliding) steals the ball from Edgewood’s William Lawson during their soccer match at Edgewood on Thursday, August 31, 2023.
Eastern Greene’s Clara Hawk (sliding) steals the ball from Edgewood’s William Lawson during their soccer match at Edgewood on Thursday, August 31, 2023.

Class 1A at Trinity Lutheran

SCHEDULE — Monday: Henryville (8-6-2) vs. Trinity Lutheran (6-10), 5 p.m.; Rock Creek Academy (13-0-2) vs. Eastern Greene (1-7-3), 7 p.m. Wednesday: Christian Academy of Indiana (2-6-3) vs. Austin (0-9), 5 p.m.; Thursday (semifinals): Lanesville (1-12-1) vs. Henryville/Trinity Lutheran winner, 5 p.m.; RCA/EG winner vs. CAI/Austin winner, 7 p.m. Saturday: championship, 2 p.m.

OUTLOOK — It would appear record-wise that No. 18 Rock Creek is an overwhelming favorite, but the Lions played to a scoreless tie with Henryville and nipped the host Cougars 5-4. Eastern Greene is certainly an X-factor here in its very first sectional since the T-Birds have not played anyone in the field, but for comparison, RCA did beat a Mitchell team 7-0 that the T-Birds tied 1-1. Eastern's been competitive in all but three losses (7-1 to Barr-Reeve, 10-0 to White River Valley and 8-2 to 3A Mooresville.

More: These are the Bloomington area's most improved boys cross country runners

Class 1A at White River Valley

SCHEDULE — Wednesday (semifinals): White River Valley (10-3) vs. Greenwood Christian (11-4), 5:30 p.m.; Bloomfield (6-6-1) vs. Lighthouse Christian (5-4-2), 7:30 p.m. Saturday: championship, 2 p.m.

OUTLOOK — Lighthouse and Bloomfield did not meet this year. LCA comes in off a 2-1 win over Edgewood and has won three straight, all by one goal. The Lions will need a big week from top scorer Nathanael Huck (22 goals, nine assists), but No. 6 Greenwood Christian and sophomore Boden Campbell (17 goals) are the clear favorites, with lopsided wins in hand over WRV (4-1) and the Cards (5-0). GCA has played five 1A top-20 teams, going 3-1 and losing another in a tournament setting on PKs.

Contact Jim Gordillo at jgordillo@heraldt.com and follow on X (Twitter) @JimGordillo.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: What to know about Bloomington-area IHSAA boys' soccer sectionals