WASHINGTON —
For two months, Washington and Washington Catholic soccer teams have prepared for this time — sectional games that count, starting Monday.
The Washington boys begin the postseason as they do every year, on the quest for their first state championship. The Hatchets (9-2-4) have earned five championship game appearances. After a bumpy start to the season, head coach Quintin Myers believes his team is playing its best soccer at the right time.
“We are definitely playing the best we’ve played all season,” Myers said. “I was frustrated earlier in the season, but the last five game we are really playing well.”
Over the last five games, the Hatchets are 4-1 with the only loss coming to 2A No. 5 Valparaiso on a day when they defeated 2A No. 10 Fort Wayne Homestead earlier. The Hatchets also defeated first-round sectional foe Boonville, 1-0, on the sectional pitch. Myers said he would have liked to not be playing the first round, but his team is ready.
“I was hoping for the first-round bye,” Myers said. “We definitely have the toughest road with Boonville first, but we already beat them. To be the best maybe you have to beat the best. We aren’t looking past Boonville, because we know how dangerous they are.”
After a slow start to the season, the Washington girls (9-5-1) appear to be playing their best soccer of the season as well. The Hatchets have posted an 8-1-1 record.
“We are extremely excited about the sectional,” coach Lauren Hannan said. “We know our potential and we believe we can go far.”
The Hatchets have played two of the other four teams in their sectional draw with victories against Evansville Central and Boonville. Hannan knows what her team’s potential is and has high expectations.
“We are expecting good competition and tough opponents that challenge us, but we are ready for it.”
The Class A No. 8 Washington Catholic boys are in the midst of a very special run the last two seasons. The Cardinals (14-0-1) haven’t lost a regular season game since 2010 and their only loss was in the regional to Mater Dei last season. Head Coach Wayne Neace knows what he has with his team and his expectations couldn’t be higher.
“We feel pretty good, so far this season we have beaten every team in our sectional,” Neace said. “We’ll go in as probably the favorites and as long as we play well things should work out our way.”
After last year’s great run to the first sectional championship in program history, Neace isn’t too worried about a letdown against competition that his team is very familiar with.
“That team that we drew (Northeast Dubois) has kind of always been a rivalry, so I think we’ll step up for that game,” Neace said. “If we can make it through that game, then we can see who makes it to the championship game and I think they will get up for a championship game.”
Lady Cardinals head coach Kelly Neace has revenge on her mind as her team will take on rival South Knox Monday at 6 p.m. at Sullivan. Neace said she has been encouraged by the progression her team as they prepare for the postseason.
“We feel great,” Neace said. “We have just come off two close games, the last one we won 8-0 at Owen Valley and that pumped the girls up.”
The Lady Cardinals (4-3-3) open with South Knox Monday, giving Neace and her girls a great opportunity to end the season of their rival, South Knox.
“South Knox and us, we battle back and forth every year,” Neace said. “We tied them this year and we want a chance at redemption.”
Local Sports
Local soccer teams ready for sectional
- Local Sports
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Obaseki moving up the ladder
Ben Obaseki was happy with his performance at the three-day rookie mini-camp of the Green Bay Packers. Now it is up to the Packers, or another team, to make a call.
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Dubois wins Loogootee Sectional
For the second time this season, Northeast Dubois got the best of Barr-Reeve in girls tennis.
Northeast Dubois defeated Barr-Reeve 5-0 Thursday afternoon to win the Loogootee girls tennis sectional. -
WHS girls soccer call-out meeting
A Washington girls soccer call-out meeting will be held Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Lena Dunn cafeteria. The meeting is for girls entering 7th-12th graders who are interested in junior high and high school soccer.
For more information, please contact Mary Clifton at 812-259-5051. -
Cougars win one for Samantha
Senior night is always an event packed with emotion, but this was different.
The North Daviess softball team (20-7) defeated Jasper 8-4 Friday night at North Daviess on a Senior Night that meant so much to the home team.
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Wagler places 2nd in 1600 meters
Loogootee’s Zach Wagler placed second and fourth in two events at Thursday's boys track sectional.
Wagler placed second in the 1,600 meters in a time of 4:33.15, and was fourth in the 3,200 meters in 10:21. -
Jeffers, Reed named to SWIAC team
Taylor Jeffers and Madison Reed were named All-Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference in tennis by winning first doubles at the conference meet.
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Graber Post Classic set
Defending champion Barr-Reeve meets Clay City on Dec. 23 in the opening round of the eighth annual Graber Post Classic as announced by tournament officials Thursday.
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WHS football call-out meeting
A call-out meeting for boys entering grades seven through 12 next school year who wish to play football at Washington is at 7 p.m. Sunday.
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Bloomfield eliminates ND
Bloomfield eliminated North Daviess, 4-1, Wednesday in the opening round of the girls tennis sectional.
Madison Reed-Taylor Jeffers won for North Daviess at first doubles, defeating Lexi Place-Emily Bucher, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
In singles, Cari Jo Wilson, Brytni Bray and Nicole Woodruff were defeated, 6-1, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 and 6-0, 6-1 respectively.
Caitlin Chestnut-Michael Sprinkle were also defeated at second doubles in straight 6-2 sets. -
Graber has two-hitter
Lucas Graber held Bloomfield to two hits and Barr-Reeve's offense did the rest in a 10-0 six-inning baseball victory Tuesday.
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