FALL SPORTS PREVIEW: Girls Soccer

Looking for a team that will have an impact on the girls soccer season this fall? Well, look no further than Brebeuf, where the Braves return the majority of their starters - including the entire starting defense and goalkeeper Jackie Thompson. Says coach Carolyn Riggs, "I'm sure every coach would say this, but we brought in a strong group of freshman that should give us additional depth." Cathedral (16-3-4 in 2007) has the talent needed to repeat (check out the list below), while Center Grove (20-4) hopes to advance to state finals again, but lost several stars to graduation. Other teams that can challenge for a title or deep state tourney run? How about Center Grove, which fell to Cathedral at state semifinals and complied a 20-4 record in 2007? And, can Carmel make a run at the title? The Greyhounds feature several key returning seniors and it is a group with much experience in postseason play. Plus, have no doubt that perennial threat North Central will have something to say about who advances to state, as will Brownsburg (16-2-5 in 2007) and Avon. PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR THIS FALL: MICHELLE SAUER (Avon) - After missing her junior campaign with an injury, Sauer returns to the Orioles this fall. Sauer started as a freshman and sophomore and was All-Conference, All-District and All-State (the only sophomore chosen for those honors) in 2006. Sauer has committed to Michigan. MARIAH WHITAKER (Cathedral) - A junior, Whitaker is one of seven returning starters from last year's state title team and scored one of the goals in the championship against Penn, one of 14 goals scored in 2007. SOPHIA SPENIA (Cathedral) - Just a sophomore, Spenia tied with Whitaker for the team led in goals scored (14). ALLIE VANDEWATER (Noblesville) - A senior, Vandewater was a First Team All-State selection last season. HILARY FOX (Franklin) - One of the area's assist leaders last fall with six in 19 games. KAT HANNI (Carmel) - A senior captain, Hanni plays stellar defense and is a four-year varsity starter for the Greyhounds. ERIN BLEWITT (Carmel) - After missing all of 2007 with an injury, this senior is ready to breakout in 2008. TAYLOR CORNWELL (Carmel) - Another returning senior that could be the reason the Greyhounds are in the hunt for the state title this fall. SARAH CARLISLE (Sheridan) - Named all district as a freshman in 2007 in recognition of a 19-goal, 9-assist campaign in 2007. CIERSTEN BURKS (Brebeuf) - A senior forward, committed to play at Indiana, Burks is one of the Braves strongest players. KATE CORR (Brebeuf) - a key senior defender for the Braves, committed to Xavier. ELISE DeTRUDE (Brebeuf) - An up and coming sophomore, DeTrude is a midfielder with a wide range of skills. HANNAH MAHER (Zionsville) - A senior, Maher was named All-District last fall. MACKENZIE CALVERT (Brownsburg) - Just a junior, Calvert was named Second Team All-District as a goalkeeper. BRAYDAN WILES (Pendleton Heights) - 14 goals and 12 assists last fall. KRISTEN COOLEY (Westfield) - Senior was All-District a season ago and Second Team All-State. OLIVIA HOLDEN (Hamilton Southeastern) - Holden, a senior midfielder, was a IGSCA All-State Second Team Selection with eight assists, three goals and 14 points scored in 15 games last fall. IHSAA Historical Information Year Champion Coach Rec Runner-Up Coach Rec Score Kuntz Memorial Stadium, Indianapolis 1994-95 Carmel Frank Dixon 22-0-1 South Bend St. Joseph's Johan Kuitse 17-1-4 1-0 1995-96 Carmel Frank Dixon 22-0-1 Evansville Memorial Joe Lattner 19-3-1 2-1 1996-97 Evansville Memorial Joe Lattner 19-3-0 Carmel Frank Dixon 19-1-2 1-0 1997-98 Carmel Frank Dixon 22-0-1 Center Grove Dan McLaughlin 22-3 3-0 1998-99 South Bend St. Joseph's Johan Kuitse 18-4-1 Evansville Memorial Joe Lattner 16-4-1 2-1 1999-00 North Central (Indianapolis) Tony Jacklin 21-1-3 Andrean John Marovich 19-5 2-1 PK 2000-01 Carmel Frank Dixon 22-1-1 Chesterton Kip Walton 22-2 5-0 2001-02 Carmel Frank Dixon 23-0-1 Homestead Patrick Teagarden 20-3-1 1-0 2002-03 Carmel Frank Dixon 25-0 Bloomington South Matt Wilhoit 18-5-2 4-0 2003-04 Carmel Frank Dixon 22-2 South Bend St. Joseph's Johan Kuitse 18-4-3 3-0 2004-05 Carmel Frank Dixon 21-2-1 Fort Wayne Snider Tony Cardenas 16-5-3 2-0 2005-06 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger Jason Wisniewski 21-3-1 Zionsville John Kluba 17-4-2 2-1 PK 2006-07 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger Jason Wisniewski 23-0-2 North Central (Indianapolis) Jimmy Carson 20-3-2 2-1 2007-08 Indianapolis Cathedral Marc Behringer 16-3-4 Penn Mike Luber 21-3 4-2 Most State Championships No. School Years 8 Carmel 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 2 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 2005, 2006 1 Evansville Memorial 1996 1 Indianapolis Cathedral 2007 1 North Central (Indianapolis) 1999 1 South Bend St. Joseph's 1998 Most State Runner-Up Finishes No. School Years 2 Evansville Memorial 1995, 1998 2 South Bend St. Joseph's 1994, 2003 1 Andrean 1999 1 Bloomington South 2002 1 Carmel 1996 1 Center Grove 1997 1 Chesterton 2000 1 Fort Wayne Snider 2004 1 Homestead 2001 1 North Central (Indianapolis) 2006 1 Penn 2007 1 Zionsville 2005 Most Championship Match Appearances No. School Years 9 Carmel 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 3 Evansville Memorial 1995, 1996, 1998 3 South Bend St. Joseph's 1994, 1998, 2003 2 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 2005, 2006 2 North Central (Indianapolis) 1999, 2006 1 Andrean 1999 1 Bloomington South 2002 1 Center Grove 1997 1 Chesterton 2000 1 Fort Wayne Snider 2004 1 Homestead 2001 1 Indianapolis Cathedral 2007 1 Penn 2007 1 Zionsville 2005 Most State Finals Appearances No. School Years 10 Carmel 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 7 Evansville Memorial 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006 4 South Bend St. Joseph's 1994, 1995, 1998, 2003 3 Chesterton 2000, 2001, 2002 3 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 2005, 2006, 2007 3 Homestead 1996, 2001, 2003 2 Bloomington South 2002, 2003 2 Center Grove 1997, 2007 2 Evansville Central 2004, 2005 2 Fort Wayne Snider 2002, 2004 2 Indianapolis Cathedral 1994, 2007 2 Lake Central 1997, 2005 2 North Central (Indianapolis) 1999, 2006 2 Penn 1996, 2007 2 Zionsville 1995, 2005 1 Andrean 1999 1 Brownsburg 1999 1 Concord 2004 1 Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 1997 1 Fort Wayne Northrop 1998 1 Franklin County 1999 1 Noblesville 2000 1 Portage 2006 State Finals Field Year-by-Year Year Champion Runner-Up Other Finalists 1994-95 Carmel South Bend St. Joseph's Evansville Memorial, Indianapolis Cathedral 1995-96 Carmel Evansville Memorial South Bend St. Joseph's, Zionsville 1996-97 Evansville Memorial Carmel Homestead, Penn 1997-98 Carmel Center Grove Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Lake Central 1998-99 South Bend St. Joseph's Evansville Memorial Carmel, Fort Wayne Northrop 1999-00 North Central (Indianapolis) Andrean Brownsburg, Franklin County 2000-01 Carmel Chesterton Evansville Memorial, Noblesville 2001-02 Carmel Homestead Chesterton, Evansville Memorial 2002-03 Carmel Bloomington South Chesterton, Fort Wayne Snider 2003-04 Carmel South Bend St. Joseph's Bloomington South, Homestead 2004-05 Carmel Fort Wayne Snider Concord, Evansville Central 2005-06 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger Zionsville Evansville Central, Lake Central 2006-07 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger North Central (Indianapolis) Evansville Memorial, Portage 2007-08 Indianapolis Cathedral Penn Center Grove, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger