Eagles battle to the end

Zionsville pushed defending champion Evansville Memorial to the brink at Indianapolis' Kuntz Stadium on Saturday night. Down 2-0 in the 42nd minute in the Indiana High School Athletic Association State Finals championship game, the Eagles rallied, tying the score to force overtime and a decisive shootout. Unfortunately, the Tigers pulled ahead for good as Travis Latta's drilled home the game-winner on the final exchange of penalty kicks. Zionsville junior midfielder Dylan Mares scored the Eagles' first goal and later the state's leading scorer Harrison Petts knotted the game at 2 off an assist from A.J. Corrado. The goal marked Petts' 40th on the year, a career-high. The Eagles finished the year with a 20-4-1 record and were ranked fifth before the IHSAA State Tournament began last month. The team blanked Mishawaka Marian in the semifinals earlier in the day to advance to the championship game. In the IHSAA Girls Soccer State Finals, Noblesville fell to eventual champion Evansville Memorial 1-0 in the semifinals. The Millers ended the year at 19-1-2 and a final four qualifier, the second time overall and first since 2000.