INDIANAPOLIS — Angie Lensing is listening to every achievement. Each one is still difficult to comprehend.
She knows the history of her program. Lensing has been on staff at Memorial for almost three decades, spending the past 24 as head coach. Some of the best teams in the city walked those sidelines. Their achievements are on display at the school.
None of them did this. What these Tigers accomplished sets them apart. We’re not talking just within the program.
No. 1 Memorial defeated No. 7 Leo 4-0 to win the Class 2A girls soccer state championship at Carroll Stadium on Friday. The Tigers (22-0-1) went undefeated this season, clinching back-to-back state titles.
They made Evansville soccer history.
“I am still surprised,” said Lensing. “The competition across the state is getting stronger. We had a lot of them as freshmen and a big group of them as sophom*ores. Losing in PKs (in 2020) only instilled a little more into our girls. They were focused and looked like they were enjoying themselves."
Take a look at what this group finished this weekend.
No Evansville girls soccer team had ever finished unbeaten in the IHSAA tournament era. Considering the high quality of both teams and individual talent, that might be a surprise. The Tigers, now six-time IHSAA state champions, outscored opponents 107-4 this fall. Those are absurd numbers.
Just one city program had won back-to-back state championships: Mater Dei won three from 2017-19. Yet, Memorial's two-year window was more dominant. The Wildcats had 16 losses across those three seasons while the Tigers went 34 straight matches without one. The schedule this season featured 13 teams in the final state poll.
Memorial also beat a pair of out-of-state opponents that finished with a combined 35 wins. The Tigers were ranked second nationally in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll. It’s difficult to find any fault in this run.
“It’s our drive and work ethic,” said senior Ella Hamner. “We didn’t just focus on (state titles) but took it game by game. We wanted to get the job done. This was the year to do it.”
Their final performance was a mirror image of many that came before. Memorial outshot Leo 27-7 and had an 8-0 advantage on corners. The nerves were wiped away once the first goal found the net. Another dominant performance in a season full of them.
At the center of it all was Hamner. The University of Evansville commit recorded a hat track – those three goals tied for the most ever in an IHSAA girls' state title game – and it shouldn’t come as a surprise. She scored the overtime winner on this same field last year. She elevates her game on the biggest stage.
The first two were shots outside the box to put the Tigers up 2-0 by halftime. The final strike, a left-footer only a few feet inside the penalty area, found the side net with 27 minutes remaining. Hamner scored 15 postseason goals over the past two years.
“I keep saying these girls are competitors,” said Lensing. “Ella, in big games, seems to use her mental toughness and patience to do what’s needed. She is such a team player that she wants this for her team. She attacked in the middle and shot from the outside.”
The defense made sure that's all they needed, limiting the Lions (18-5) to opportunities few and far in-between. A tactical move from the centerbacks halted any forward progress – Lensing had them apply more pressure on the forwards to allow others to play up.
This was the 20th shutout of the season. No opponent scored throughout the final eight weeks. The four goals allowed also might be a program record for the fewest.
“We played together like we have all season,” said senior Emily Mattingly, the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award winner. “Grit and determination. (This season) sets the tone for future generations. It lets our underclassmen know they have to defend the title next year.”
Myla Browning scored the other goal for the Tigers, a header in front of the keeper following a lofted ball near the end line by Ashlyn Nobles, with 37 minutes left. Just another example of how talented this team was up and down the roster. Any of them could step up when the moment was required.
Lensing didn’t need the words postgame to explain how special this group has been. Her emotions as the team lined up for the trophy celebration said enough. Tears streamed down her face as she won her fifth IHSAA title as a head coach.
There will be other teams from Evansville to compete for state championships. Memorial could continue to be one of them. But what this group accomplished and how they did it over the past two years? That might stand alone for some time.
"It took all that we had,” said Nobles. “This was our goal. Back-to-back state championships. We have such a great program. I’m glad to be the first team to do this.”
Follow Courier & Press sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on Twitter @kylesokeland.
