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Riley Boyd's late goal delivers HSE's first soccer crown
INDIANAPOLIS – Riley Boyd didn’t overthink the situation. In fact, she admittedly didn’t think at all.
Rather, the Hamilton Southeastern senior’s instincts took hold, and she immediately seized her opportunity in the 75th minute during the Class 3A IHSAA girls soccer state finals on Saturday night.
With the top-ranked HSE Royals locked in a scoreless tug-of-war against third-ranked Carmel inside Michael A. Carroll Stadium at IU Indianapolis, Boyd trailed a defender as both swiftly pursued a loose ball that leisurely bounced deep into Greyhounds’ territory.
Both players closed in while the ball rolled towards the top of the Greyhounds’ penalty area where Carmel freshman goalkeeper Gwyneth Provost charged and planted to kick it away.
A routine clearing in most situations, instead became a decisive, game-changing moment.
“She tried clearing it, and she cleared it into her player, and it went right to my feet,” Boyd said. “So, I just kicked it.”
IHSAA Class 3A Girls State Championship
Hamilton Southeastern 1, Carmel 0
Provost’s clearing ricocheted off her defender, who fell to the turf from the impact, causing the ball to squirt deeper into the box where Boyd and the goalkeeper raced after it.
As Boyd lined up a running, right-footed shot, Provost dove, but the ball zipped past her hands.
However, Boyd’s soft shot slowly skipped into the goal area, losing momentum the closer it got to the goal line with the Royals’ crowd holding its collective breath.
“I was chasing it just to make sure no one was following me there,” Boyd said. “I was just guarding it.”
Ready to tap it in, if needed, the ball reached the back of the net, as if in slow motion, while Boyd raised both of her arms in celebration.
HSE junior Kherington Patton rushed over to Boyd first, followed by junior Izzy Springer before the Indiana University recruit was swarmed by most of her teammates.
“It’s for sure a lot of pressure, but I think I got lucky in the moment, and it all worked out in the end,” Boyd said. “I’m happy with it.”
Boyd’s second goal in two games and 15th of the season was enough, as junior goalkeeper Hannah Dodge protected the lead through the final 5:36 for her 16th clean sheet, and the Royals won 1-0 to claim the program’s first-ever state championship.
“Anything for the fans. Eleven seconds here. Five minutes there. Royals. We just find a way to win,” HSE coach Greg Davidson said. “We believe in ourselves, and we’re not going to stop until somebody blows a whistle and tells us we have to stop.”
In a backyard brawl for the state title between two rival Hamilton County teams – the sixth time such a meeting has occurred since 2011 – Hamilton Southeastern (22-0-1) handed Carmel (19-3-1) its fourth consecutive state finals loss.
The state’s all-time girls soccer leader with 10 state championships in 31 years, Carmel has reached the state finals 17 times, and the Greyhounds’ fate, once again, was decided by a one-goal margin.
In 2011, Carmel defeated HSE, 1-0, in the 2A state finals for its ninth title and first in the classification era. In 2018, a 2-1 overtime win over Homestead secured Carmel’s lone 3A championship.
However, a 1-0 loss to 3A Fishers (2014), a pair of 1-0 losses to 3A Noblesville (2019, 2022) in addition to a 2-1 setback against 3A Homestead (2021) has tamed the Greyhounds’ attempt to build on their state dominance.
“It’s always painful when you have a game where it’s kind of 50-50 who’s going to win it, and you give it away in the last 10 minutes, which is kind of what we did,” Carmel coach John Simmonds said. “The ten seniors have nothing to be ashamed of. We had a very good year, and I’m happy we were here.”
The Royals were focused on finishing the job during their first state finals appearance in 14 years after a stretch of 12 straight years of falling short to rivals Noblesville and Fishers at sectional.
A semi-state qualifier in 2012, HSE watched as Noblesville, Fishers and Carmel combined to claim seven state titles during the Royals’ hiatus.
“You know, this is my 30th year as head coach, and I don’t think I have 30 years left in me by any means,” said Davidson, who has led HSE to a 377-127-54 record in his tenure. “Thirty years is a long time to be coaching, and, you know, I never doubted it, but boy, it got harder every year that you didn’t win.”
The wait is finally over for Davidson and the Royals, who had all the pieces, particularly five active Division I commits, fall into place.
By the final whistle, both HSE and Carmel posted 12 shots each, while the Greyhounds bested the Royals in shots on goal at 6-5. The corner kick advantage went to Carmel 8-3, but the saves total sided with HSE at 6-4.
Dodge recorded one save in the first half and five in the second, including a highlight kick save with her right leg in the 58th minute against senior Adalyn Cameron, who led the Greyhounds with 40 goals.
“That’s one of the biggest saves I’ve definitely had to make in my life, especially in such a big game. Obviously, our team’s never been here before, so that was crucial,” Dodge said.
A strategic move to shift senior forward Sloane May, a Michigan commit, back into the midfield in the second half to counter Carmel’s formation was equally as vital.
However, Boyd, one of 15 different Royals to score at least one goal this year, had the final say in the showdown between nationally-ranked No. 1 Carmel vs. No. 2 HSE, according to MaxPreps.
“She just plays 100 mph. She plays with heart. She puts her body on the line for how hard she goes in, her headers and opportunities. She’s just wired like that,” Davidson said. “She’s super-fast, and she plays so hard that it’s not surprising that it was just a hustle play for her to just make something happen.”
Hamilton Southeastern's Blair Satterfield receives Wynns Mental Attitude Award
Following the match, Blair Satterfield of Hamilton Southeastern High School was named the recipient of the Theresia Wynns Mental Attitude Award.
Blair is currently ranked 126th in her senior class of 825 and has earned Academic All-State honors for her work in the classroom. She is an HSE Blue Crew Leader, and a member of HSE's Student Government, Student Athletic Council, and Project Lead the Way. On the field, Blair serves as HSE's Team Captain, has been awarded All-District and All-State Honors, and has earned a D1 scholarship to play at Indiana University!
The daughter of Brian and Deb Satterfield of Fishers, Indiana, Blair intends to study Nursing at IU Bloomington.
The award is annually presented to a senior, who is nominated by her principal and coach, and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability during her four years of high school. The award is named in honor of Theresia Wynns, who served as an IHSAA assistant commissioner from 1997-2012 and administered the sports of girls and boys soccer as well as the licensing of over 8,000 officials in the state of Indiana.
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, a proud corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to the general scholarship fund at Hamilton Southeastern High School in the name of Blair Satterfield.
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.
Jim Self serves as Athletic Director at Hamilton Southeastern High School. He consistently supports players and coaches, offering words of encouragement whenever he sees them in the halls or the weight room. His unwavering school spirit and dedication truly embody what it means to "bleed blue"!
Carla Baker serves as an Instructional Assistant at Carmel High School, while also serving as Assistant Coach for Carmel Girls Soccer and Girls Lacrosse. Her impact extends far and wide, from supporting students throughout the day in their curriculum to coaching and mentoring student-athletes on the field. She makes Carmel High School a better place!
