The women’s soccer team defeated Hamilton Southeastern 1-0 on Oct. 29 in the IHSAA State Final. According to Head Coach Frank Dixon, this was Carmel’s ninth State title in women’s soccer.
“In my opinion, the win this evening is one of the more satisfying victories in my coaching career,” Dixon said via email. “It fulfills a prediction from my good friend DeWayne Akin, who is smiling down on us tonight. He told us years ago that this group of seniors would win a State title. The girls have played in his memory all year long.”
Senior Brooke Backes scored the lone goal of the game on an assist from sophomore Sam Kokoska midway through the first half.
“It is also satisfying to have watched Brooke Backes score the winning goal on a play that was eerily reminiscent of the play last fall in which she broke both bones in her leg,” Dixon said. “Healing physically was a tremendous accomplishment but healing mentally and not avoiding the onrushing goalkeeper but instead finishing her shot was remarkable.”
Junior Molly Pittman said it was a great feeling to end the season with a win. “It’s just a great feeling to know that all of our hard work in practice finally paid off,” Pittman said.
The team finished with a record of 22-0-1, won the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference, the IHSAA Sectional, IHSAA Regional, IHSAA Semistate, and IHSAA State Final.