October 27, 2018
Carmel’s goal in overtime is enough for the Class 3A State title
Carmel’s Kelsie James scored two goals, the second coming in the fifth minute of the first overtime, to lift the Greyhounds to a 2-1 win over Homestead in the Class 3-A girls championship game.
The title is a state-record 10th for Carmel and long-time head coach Frank Dixon. It is the first championship for the program since 2011.
After a scoreless first half, Carmel (20-2-1) broke through in the 51st minute as James netted her first goal, scoring on a penalty kick. She beat Homestead goalkeeper Samantha Castaneda high on the right side.
Homestead (18-4) came back with the equalizer in the 61st minute, scoring on a penalty kick of its own. Senior Morgan Halliwill netted the kick on the lower left side of Carmel keeper Erin Baker.
Carmel, which outshot the Spartans, 25-9, had two free kick opportunities in the final minute, the first of which – off the foot of James -- hit the crossbar and bounced away.
James, however, came back with the game-winner, tapping into an open net after getting a crossing pass from Emily Speidel that Castaneda barely missed deflecting.
For the Spartans of coach Rick Link, it marks the second runner-up finish in program history with the first coming in 2001.
Jessica Tanzler of Homestead earns Mental Attitude Award
Jessica Tanzler of Homestead High School was named the winner of the Mental Attitude Award, sponsored by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, for Girls Class 3A Soccer by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee.
The Spartan team captain has been a member of the varsity soccer team for the past four years and was named offensive MVP just a season ago. She was ISCA All-Academic in both 2017 and 2018 and ICGSA Academic All-State this season. Tanzler is ranked 50 in her class of 563 students and is a member of the IHSAA Student Leadership Group. Jessica is also a Student Ambassador and she is a part of the Key Club. She has volunteered as a Soccer Coach at Lafayette Meadow, Fort Wayne YMCA, and Fort Wayne Wellspring Shoppe. She was also a Varsity team member for Homestead’s Unified Track & Field in 2017.
The daughter of Sharon Tanzler, Jessica will attend Indiana University in Bloomington where she will major in exercise science with minors in Spanish and Psychology.
The IHSAA Executive Committee, on behalf of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, will award a scholarship for $1,000 to Homestead High School in the name of Jessica Tanzler. Since 1989, almost $900,000 in college scholarships has been presented to deserving high school students in Indiana.