The Millers took on the Carmel Greyhounds in the IHSAA 3A Boys Soccer State Championship game. The atmosphere was electric with hundreds (thousands?) of Miller fans cheering on the talented squad at Carroll Stadium on the campus of IUPUI.
The Millers got off to a fantastic start. Just 4 minutes into the game, the Millers earned a corner kick. Brayden Doll hit an in-swinging cross to the back post. Senior Kyle Goad got a head on it sending in towards frame. However, a Carmel defender cleared the ball towards the 18 but not far enough out of danger. Defender Brady Horn, who came up on the corner kick to add his aerial prowess to the mix, was able to hit a half volley that snuck under the Carmel goalkeeper and inside the left post. It was the 3rd consecutive game the Millers had scored first in the opening 5 minutes of the contest.
Over the next 15 minutes of game action, the Greyhounds and Millers traded quality possession but few chances ended up on target. In the 20th minute, defender Cole Bramblett earned a throw-in deep in the Millers’ defensive third. Playing quickly, Bramblett was able to find a streaking Spencer Holland up the right flank. Holland took one quick touch and then sent Palmer Ault further up the pitch. The Greyhound’s goalkeeper started to come out of the penalty area to track down the through ball, but Ault was able to get there first and slot a ball into the goal from outside the 18.
The Millers went into halftime up 2-0 on their rival. Minor adjustments were made at halftime in terms of formation to hold the Hounds in check. The Millers came out after halftime re-energized. Within 3 minutes of the 2nd half starting, the Millers were on the board again. Junior Jake Johns sent a lovely driven through ball up the left flank. Palmer Ault tracked it down and had two defenders to beat. Ault dribbled aggressively at the defenders causing both of them to apply pressure. This allowed Holland to sneak in on the back post wide open. Ault placed a perfectly weighted pass into Holland’s path, who was able to shoot first time and beat the Carmel goalkeeper.
Over the next 20 minutes, the Greyhounds pushed more players forward in an effort to cut into the Millers’ lead. The defense of Andy Stansfield, Drew Cochran, Michael Crandley, Bramblett and Horn held strong. With just over 10 minutes remaining in the game, the Millers gave up a free kick to the Greyhounds on the left flank just outside the penalty area. The Hounds were able to convert on the cross and cut the lead to 3-1.
As the clock wound down, the Greyhounds had several other quality opportunities, but Senior GK Gabe Ingle was able to shut the door and preserve the lead. As the clock struck zeroes, the Millers had won 3-1 and were able to celebrate their victory. The boys had finally realized the goal they had made at the beginning of the season of winning a state title.
This is the first state championship in school history for boys soccer. The win also gives Noblesville High School an IHSAA State Championship Title in three consecutive years for the first time in school history (Girls Soccer 2019, 2020).
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BRAYDEN DOLL NAMED IHSAA’S MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD RECIPIENT
Senior Brayden Doll was named the IHSAA C. Eugene Cato Mental Attitude Award Recipient for 3A Boys’ Soccer following the Millers’ victory. The award is presented to a senior, nominated by their principal and coach, who excels in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability in soccer.
Doll is the third male athlete at Noblesville to receive the Mental Attitude Award and he becomes the ninth Miller athlete to receive the honor. It’s the first time Noblesville has had a recipient in back-to-back years.
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State Finals Appearances (2): 1999, 2021
State Championship Appearances (1): 2021
State Championships (1): 2021
MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNERS (9)
2021 – Brayden Doll, Boys Soccer
2020 – Emma Potter, Girls Soccer
2008 – Amy Albright, Gymnastics
2006 – Erica Watson, Girls Cross Country
2002 – Sally Shonk, Girls Golf
1999 – Jeff Chapman, Boys Golf
1991 – Monica Cox, Girls Soccer (High School Soccer of Indiana, Inc.)
1986 – Kristin Ryan, Girls Golf
1979 – Kent Shelby, Football (2A)