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Carmel boys topple the champs to become champs
INDIANAPOLIS - When it was over, long-time Carmel coach Shane Schmidt didn’t know how to react.
The head coach of the Greyhounds since 2007, Schmidt took over the year after the program won its last state title.
When the clock at Carroll Stadium reached 0:00, Carmel finally had its second state title with a 3-1 win over defending Class 3A champion Harrison.
“I didn't know what to think," Schmidt admitted. “I’m just so happy for what these boys did ... to go from unranked in the preseason to winning a state championship. It will take me a minute to process this.”
Carmel broke a 1-1 tie in the 26th minute when Alex Rubin scored on a penalty kick. From there, the Carmel defense and its superb goalkeeper, Gray Morgan, turned away every threat from the Raiders, who were denied a second-straight state title.
“Carmel is a heck of a team,” Harrison coach Bryan Clouse said. “We had a good tussle earlier with them and we had to minimize mistakes. I don’t think we really got into a rhythm, offensively, until midway in the second half. That was too late.”
IHSAA Class 3A Boys Soccer State Championship
Carmel 3, Harrison (West Lafayette) 1
Carmel beat Harrison, 1-0, on Sept. 30, a game in which the Greyhounds began a streak of nine games coming into the title game without giving up a goal.
Harrison (18-2-3) ended that streak in the 22nd minute when Connor Lange caught Morgan well out of his net and tapped in a kick that literally turned into a slow roll over the goal line. That scored tied the game, 1-1.
Sometimes, a streak-ender can trigger a letdown, but not with this Carmel squad.
“After that goal, I touched both the (goal) posts and got my head straight,” Morgan said. “It would have been nice to go through the tournament without giving up a goal, but going on to the next play was what was important.”
Besides, according to Schmidt, the shutout streak wasn’t even thought of.
“We didn’t even talk about it,” Schmidt said. “I had no idea how long it was, I just knew we had gone a while without giving any up.”
More importantly, the Carmel defense went back to its dominating ways. Morgan stood tall in net and made six more saves the rest of the way.
In the meantime, Rubin (who assisted on Carmel’s opening goal by Curtis Droste in the 13th minute) took a penalty kick after the Raiders were whistled for a foul in the box. He easily beat the Harrison keeper for what proved to be the game-winner.
The score remained 2-1 until the 66th minute when Evan Bardos netted a shot after taking assists from Tony Enslin and Quinn Wu for an insurance tally.
Carmel (18-1-3) had previously finished as runner-up in 1997, 2005 and 2021.
Harrison had previously taken the title in 2017 and finished as runner-up in 2015.
“Once everything calms down, the kids will realize the magnitude of what we’ve done,” Clouse said. “We’re going to work our tails off to get back here. It may not be next year or the year after, but I guarantee we’ll be back sometime.”
Harrison's Joseph McKenna named Cato Mental Attitude Award winner
Following the match, Joseph McKenna of Harrison High School was named the recipient of the C. Eugene Cato Mental Attitude Award.
Joseph ranks 78th in his senior class of 500 students and has received numerous Academic All-State honors. He's a member of Harrison's Athletic Leadership Council, is a Class Ambassador for the school's Exercise Science Program, and is a member of their Unified Basketball and Unified Track and Field teams. His play on the field has earned him All-District honors.
The son of Joe and Maria McKenna of West Lafayette, Indiana, Joseph plans to study kinesiology at Purdue University.
The award is annually presented to a senior, who is nominated by his principal and coach, and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability during his four years of high school. The award is named in honor of Mr. Cato, who served the IHSAA as its fifth commissioner from 1983 to 1995. During his tenure, boys and girls soccer became the 19th and 20th sports to be sponsored by the IHSAA.
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, a proud corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to the general scholarship fund at Harrison High School in the name of Joseph McKenna.
IHSAA’s Champion of Education Award, presented by Ivy Tech Community College
This award recognizes teachers and faculty who go above and beyond to challenge students to reach their full potential. As an organization that emphasizes keeping education at the forefront of high school athletics, the IHSAA is proud to shine a light on two honorees in this year’s class. On behalf of Ivy Tech Community College, presenting sponsors of the IHSAA Champion of Education Award, the IHSAA will award $250 to the classroom of each recipient.
Craig Smiley teaches Physics at Harrison High School. Craig has an unmatched energy and enthusiasm for teaching and working with young people. His ability to reach and connect with every student makes him stand out. He excels at making difficult concepts and skills fun and engaging! He’s truly an inspiration to students and fellow faculty!
Aaron Boskett serves as Strength and Conditioning Coordinator at Carmel High School. His dedicated guidance fosters discipline, teamwork, and peak physical conditioning, empowering student athletes to excel on the field. Coach Boskett's dedication is evident to all Greyhound student athletes!
