Daily Reporter staff reports
There will be, at least, one Hancock County rivalry renewal when the IHSAA boys and girls soccer sectionals get under way next week.
The IHSAA announced pairings for tournaments Sunday evening.
With Mt. Vernon as host, the Class 3A Sectional 12 girls tournament will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8.
Greenfield-Central (12-2) opens play against Richmond (8-7-1).
The opening contest will be followed by a county rematch between New Palestine (8-5-2) and host Mt. Vernon (10-5). The Marauders beat the Dragons 2-0 on Sept. 11.
A Greenfield-Central win on Oct. 8 would set up another Hancock County head-to-head match for the semifinal match at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10. The Cougars would take on the winner of the NP-MV contest. In a second semifinal game to follow that night, East Central (10-2-2) plays Shelbyville (4-8-1).
The championship match and berth into the regional will be determined at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12.
The Class 3A Sectional 12 boys’ tournament will be at East Central, located in St. Leon in Dearborn County.
The seven-team field includes the same schools in the Mt. Vernon girls draw with the addition of Connersville.
New Palestine (1-11-1) opens play in next week’s boys’ tournament with a match against Richmond (1-11). The winner of that match will take on Mt. Vernon (6-8), the lone team to receive a bye.
The top half of the bracket includes three teams with overall losing records. The bottom half has four teams with winning records.
The first of two lower-bracket quarterfinal contests is between Connersville (9-6-1) and host East Central (8-5-2). The other match pits Greenfield-Central (13-1) against Shelbyville (9-4-2).
The Cougars are 4-0 against teams in the tournament, including a tight 1-0 victory over Shelbyville on Sept. 23.
Dates and times have not been announced for the boys’ tournament.
