WASHINGTON, Ind. — This was the performance Memorial anticipated all season.
Eighty minutes of good soccer. No lapses in the middle of the match this time. What the Tigers did on Saturday was worthy of a championship and came at the opportune moment.
No. 3 Memorial defeated No. 5 Providence 4-0 to win the Class 2A boys regional championship Gwaltney Sports Complex. The Tigers advance to the semistate for a rematch with No. 2 Brebeuf.
More:Here are the Evansville-area IHSAA soccer regional scores, schedule
“This was our best start to finish,” Memorial coach Bill Vieth said. “We saw it coming but wanted it to get here faster. We had to keep convincing them that we believe in them, and they should believe in themselves.”
Memorial had a 3-7 record on Sept. 15 before a nine-match unbeaten streak through the regional semifinal. This game was different. The Tigers (12-7-1) never let up their intensity.
Ivan Bennett converted a penalty kick in the second minute, and Kortlen Sears made it 2-0 by halftime. The difference in the championship was the second half. Cohen Havill cleaned up a loose ball with 26 minutes remaining, and Tristan Tas later converted on a Bennett free kick.
For a team lacking confidence or cohesiveness for parts of the season, this was without a doubt its best performance. Providence (13-4-4) had not lost in nine matches.
“It’s the need to want to score,” senior Connor Harding said. “A lot of guys were going at it up top and opened opportunities. They made a mistake, and we capitalized on it.”
One key improvement has been a defense overcoming injuries. The Tigers haven’t allowed a goal in four postseason matches.
“You give up goals and lose your confidence that you can get shutouts,” Vieth said. “Since mid-September, our defense has really jelled. We’ve had people step in and still get really good results.”
Memorial advances to semistate behind Browning
Myla Browning was one of the few known quantities on this Memorial roster.
Following back-to-back state championships, the hope was to reload, but a burning question lingered. Who would score? There wasn't always an answer. Now there is.
Browning scored both goals for No. 8 Memorial in a 2-0 victory over No. 20 Jasper in the 2A girls regional championship. The Tigers advance to face No. 3 Guerin Catholic next weekend.
"She's taken off," Memorial coach Angie Lensing said of Browning. "Her confidence has been building all season. And she's a competitor. It's tournament time, and she's going full throttle."
Both goals came in a key stretch in the first half. Jasper was called for a hand ball in the box, and Browning converted the penalty kick. Seven minutes later, the junior found space near the 18-yard line. The strike off her right foot went in the top left corner.
Browning has a team-high 15 goals for the Tigers (16-6), including six in the postseason.
"We know effort beats talent," said Browning. "Our mentality this whole week and last week was to take it game by game. When (the ball) got to me, I figured I have to get into space and take the shot I can get. Thankfully, it went in."
This is a much different Memorial team compared to last year's juggernaut. Its strength is a defense allowing just three goals in a 10-match win streak since Sept. 19. All-State goalkeeper Emma Teague kept the Wildcats (12-8-1) off the board in the second half with multiple stops.
The Tigers are once again a victory away from a trip to Michael A. Carroll Stadium.
"We've complimented this group of seniors and all of our returning players on how much perseverance and grit they've played with all year," Lensing said. "They continue to strive to be the best they can."
Mater Dei continues impressive play to win regional
Three ranked opponents. All victories. Mater Dei picked the right time to find its footing.
The No. 5 Wildcats knocked out No. 1 Providence with a 3-0 victory at Forest Park in the 1A girls regional championship. Next up is a rematch with No. 4 Park Tudor in the semistate.
This continues an impressive postseason stretch that included wins over No. 2 Evansville Christian and No. 14 Forest Park in the sectional.
"A lot of people counted this group out early after losing 11 seniors," Mater Dei coach Maura Hulme said. "These girls have come together and are playing well at the right time. They have also put in the work to be here."
Morgan Wannemuehler followed her seven-goal semifinal effort against South Knox with a pair of strikes to put the Wildcats (14-6) on the board. The first was a breakaway late in the first half that went low and away from the keeper.
Ava Helming had the final goal with 10 minutes remaining. Mater Dei has out-scored its opponents 19-1 in the postseason.
"Girls played for each other today," Hulme said. "We unfortunately had a player go down in the first half. It was a next-man-up mentality, and a senior rose to the occasion. Advancing this far is amazing and such a confidence booster for this group."
In the 3A girls regional, No. 11 Bloomington South upset No. 4 Castle 3-1 in penalty kicks.
The Knights and Panthers played to a scoreless draw with a late Castle shot in the second half hitting the crossbar. The Southern Indiana Athletic Conference champions finished with a 16-2 record.
In the 1A boys regional, No. 17 Forest Park defended its title with a 1-0 victory over No. 10 Southwestern. Luke Meunier scored on a header with 26 minutes remaining. The Rangers (14-7) get a rematch with No. 6 Greenwood Christian Academy.
Follow Courier & Press sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland.
