PENDLETON — A year after losing hold of the Hoosier Heritage Conference, the Mt. Vernon girls soccer team left no doubt on Monday.
The Marauders notched their sixth shutout of the season at HHC rival Pendleton Heights, 5-0, and in the process secured the program’s third outright league title in four seasons.
Mt. Vernon improved to 9-3-1 on the season with the season-finale victory and finished a flawless 7-0 in the HHC.
The Marauders won out in the HHC by beating visiting Delta on Saturday, 10-1, which seized at least a share of the league championship with New Palestine (6-1).
Monday’s win gave them sole possession of the crown.
Mt. Vernon had won the HHC from 2016-19 and now own six team championships since 2013.
The Marauders were HHC runner-ups in 2020 to Yorktown. After reclaiming the HHC Bell traveling trophy earlier this season, the Marauders made their run back to the top official behind five second-half goals against Pendleton Heights (8-5-1, 5-2 HHC).
Shay Shipley kicked off the second-half rally for Mt. Vernon by burying a corner from Kylie Brandes for a 1-0 lead.
Minutes later, Shipley struck again, lining in a 35-yard goal for a 2-0 advantage.
Mattie Isger worked through the Arabians’ defense en route to a side-net goal, which increased the lead 3-0.
The final two goals were scored by Hannah Monroe, who finished off a corner, and by Bri Hale.
Reagan Britt recorded five saves in goal for the Marauders. She now has 15 saves on the season.
Shipley’s two goals pushed her season total to 11. Isger has eight on the year, and Monroe now has three. Hale’s goal was her first in 2021.
During Mt. Vernon’s decisive win at home over Delta on Saturday, the team netted five goals in the first half and five more in the second.
Brandes, Shipley and Maddie Swingle each finished with two goals apiece. Lily Wilson, Ellie Gawrys, Isger and Emma Gasiorek posted one goal each.
Brandes and Isger both assisted three goals each. Shipley and Addison Lockwood had one assist apiece.
The Marauders open the Class 3A Sectional 12 tournament at Greenfield-Central on Tuesday against Richmond at 5 p.m.
New Palestine faces host Greenfield-Central on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the quarterfinals with both winners advancing to the sectional semifinals on Thursday, Oct. 7, at 5 p.m.
Shelbyville and East Central will play in the second semifinal game at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7. The sectional title game is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m.
Dragons win on senior night
The New Palestine girls soccer team honored seniors Taylor Kelley and Maddie Smathers Monday night, then sent them out with a 3-0 victory over HHC foe Shelbyville.
The victory improved the Dragons’ record to 10-4 and 6-1 in the Hoosier Heritage Conference. The Dragons clinched second place in the league.
McKenzie Davis scored in the 33rd minute to give the Dragons a 1-0 edge going into halftime. Allie Blum then extended the lead with two second-half goals. Mia Knoop and Sydney Miller each tallied assists.
Grace Hasenkamp made three saves to record the clean sheet in goal.
The Dragons finish the regular season today at home against Center Grove.
Volleyball
Dragons extinguish Flashes
The New Palestine volleyball team improved to 15-2 on the season Monday with a 25-11, 19-25, 25-23, 25-20 victory over host Franklin Central.
Lauren Wilson led the Dragons’ attack with 15 kills and nine digs. Reagan Kleiman added 13 kills. Jada Hausz had six kills. Isabella Gizzi posted five kills and 32 assists.
Grace Myers led the defense with 25 digs. Trinity Oertel had nine digs, while McKaylah Flagle had seven digs and led the Dragons at the service line with six aces.
Cross Country
Marauders take second at invite
The Mt. Vernon girls cross-country team finished second to the state’s top-team, Columbus North, during the Golden Bear Invite in Shelbyville on Saturday.
The event marked the Marauders’ third meet in eight days, but the team gritted to place three runners in the top 25.
Lydia Carrell was fifth, Morgan Tharp placed 12th and Allie Jenson was 24th. Melinda Sue Cornelius finished 30th, Emma Gale 31st, Alex Overshiner 34th, Julia Iserloth 35th, Tenley Benz 48th and Madelyn Ludlow 78th.
Up next for the Marauders is the HHC Championship on Saturday at Delta. Mt. Vernon is chasing its first potential HHC team title since 2010.
