Daily Reporter staff reports
NEW CASTLE — Mission accomplished.
On Wednesday night, the New Palestine boys tennis team traveled to Hoosier Heritage Conference foe New Castle with a chance to claim an outright conference championship.
They succeeded with a 5-0 sweep to finish 7-0 in HHC play and improve to 15-4 on the season. The HHC championship is the first for the Dragons tennis program since 2009 and only the third in school history.
Matthew True won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 singles to increase his record to 15-4. Ben Blachly was victorious 6-2, 6-4 at No. 2 singles. Carson Gavin made it 3-for-3 at singles with a 6-2, 6-2 win from the third spot.
Nick Rusche and Colby Wagoner controlled their match at No. 1 doubles to win 6-0, 6-1. David Hockett and Dane Reid went on the attack to secure a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles.
The Dragons returned to the court on Thursday night for Senior Day at New Palestine against Bishop Chatard.
Royals fall to Anderson
The Eastern Hancock boys tennis team narrowly lost 3-2 to the Anderson Indians on Wednesday.
The Royals won at No. 3 singles behind a gritty three-set effort by Ian White 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. Keegan Bowman and Brady Ellis went the distance to win at No. 2 doubles, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
Eastern Hancock challenged at No. 1 doubles, but lost in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Boys soccer
Cougars win second straight
The Greenfield-Central boys soccer team shutout Hoosier Heritage Conference foe Yorktown 6-0 on Wednesday night.
The Cougars charged out with three first-half goals to improve to 8-4-1 on the season and 4-1 in the HHC.
Pablo Aguinaga opened the night with a goal assisted by Braiden Sticka. Zack Bell made it 2-0 off another assist by Sticka.
Cole Pierce scored an unassisted goal on a penalty kick to put the Cougars ahead 3-0. Sticka converted an assist from Aguinaga on the next goal before Pierce scored the hat trick.
Pierce’s second goal was assisted by Bell and Sean Julian. Bell fed Pierce for the third. Noah Hughes and Abe Buescher combined for the shutout win in goal.
Dragons tie Center Grove
The New Palestine boys soccer team traveled to Center Grove on Wednesday and played to a scoreless draw against the 12th-ranked Trojans.
The Dragons’ defense had a strong game and goalkeeper Adam Hunt made some big saves to preserve the shutout.
The Dragons are now 5-6-1 on the season and played Fishers on Thursday night.
Girls soccer
Marauders snap skid
The Mt. Vernon girls soccer team snapped its two-game losing streak with a 5-0 shutout at Lawrence Central on Wednesday.
Five different players scored a goal for the Marauders, who improved to 12-2 on the season and remain 5-0 in the HHC.
The Marauders scored four goals in the first half before adding another in the second. Emma Langdon, Alexi Hardie, Riley Hurst, Alaina Nelson, and Morgan Scruggs each had a goal.
Langdon had one assist, while Hardie added a pair. Jaici Wright had two saves and combined with Angelina Metcalf for the shutout.
The Marauders host HHC foe Delta on Saturday and finish the regular season at Pendleton Heights on Monday. If Mt. Vernon wins out, the team will clinch the outright HHC title.
Dragons tame Arabians
The 11th-ranked New Palestine girls soccer team defeated Hoosier Heritage Conference foe Pendleton Heights 2-1 on Wednesday night.
The Arabians entered the match as co-leaders in the HHC, suffering their first conference loss.
Pendleton Heights carried an early 1-0 lead before Dragons’ Maddy Miller tied the match by scoring off Hannah Taggart’s free kick. The second goal came with 11 minutes left off a corner kick.
Miller chased down the ball, beat one defender and crossed it to Megan Jolly, who headed the ball into the net.
The Dragons are now 10-2-1 and 4-2 in the HHC. New Palestine’s next game is Saturday at Lawrence Central.
Volleyball
Marauders sweep Tigers
The Mt. Vernon volleyball team blanked Triton Central on the road 3-0 on Wednesday night.
The Marauders won 25-14, 25-20, 25-23 to improve to 9-8 on the season.
Grace Hurst led the defensive effort with 31 digs. Claire Ertel had 11 digs, while Meridan Eads set 18 assists with four kills. Victoria Bulmahn had 10 assists, four blocks and led the team with 11 kills.
Sarah Herman added nine kills. Ertel finished with three aces.
The Marauders traveled to Lawrence North on Thursday night and host Warren Central on Saturday.
Royals beat Tri
The Eastern Hancock Royals improved to 15-8 with a sound 3-1 victory at home against Tri on Wednesday night.
The Royals won 25-21, 25-21, 27-29, 25-12. They traveled to Monroe Central on Thursday.
Cougars fall to Tigers
The Greenfield-Central Cougars lost to HHC foe Yorktown 3-0 on Wednesday.
The Class 4A No. 3 Tigers won 25-10, 25-12, 25-13. The Cougars are now 11-9 on the season.
Junior Mary Voigt and freshman Ava Antic led the team with five kills. Freshman Makayla Price had a career-high four blocks. Voigt had five blocks. Morgan Grigsby finished with 12 digs, and Molly Broome had 13 assists.
