The 3A #1 Millers faced off against the 3A #7 Greyhounds tonight at Carmel High School. After a slight rain delay, the Millers got right to action with a goal in the 8th minute by Palmer Ault on an assist from Jake Johns. The Millers maintained possession for most of the first half.
The second half saw the Millers tested more by the Greyhound offense. The defensive line of Cole Bramblett, Brady Horn, Andy Stansfield, and Drew Cochran, along with Millers keeper Gabe Ingle, fended off several offensive attacks to keep the Greyhounds scoreless. The second goal of the night came in the 51st minute with Spencer Holland dribbling up the right flank and taking a left footed shot that deflected off a Carmel defender in for a goal. The third Miller goal came after Michael Crandley drew a foul on a corner kick and was awarded a penalty kick. Crandley got the ball past the keeper, despite the Greyhound keeper guessing correctly.
The Miller player of the game and winner of the championship belt went to senior defender and co-captain, Drew Cochran. When asked what this win meant to him and the team, Cochran said, “It’s always nice to beat Carmel. And tonight we really played hard and didn’t play into their style. We played with level heads and composure throughout the game, and played together as a team. The belt really could have gone to any number of guys tonight. It was a team win.”
In addition to the 11 players out on the field, there was another clear difference maker in tonight’s game. The Millers had the benefit of having a strong 12th man, despite it being an away game. The Miller student section, which far outnumbered the student section of the Carmel home team, brought energy and enthusiasm throughout the game and really gave the Millers an extra boost. Several seniors have taken the lead in organizing the fan base for the games, including Will Perkins and Ty Haley. When asked about the fan presence at tonight’s game, Haley said, “It was a great turnout. We really want to spread the word– we have a special group of players this year. They are a great team and fun to watch. I’m sure we’ll get even more people coming out as the season goes on.” Students can find more information about the game times and plans for the student section by following the Noblesville Miller Student Section on Twitter and checking social media for details.
The Millers travel to Columbus, Ohio for a game against Olentangy Liberty on Saturday. The Millers are back at Hallmark Orthodontics Soccer Complex Tuesday night for their first HCC match of the season against the Avon Orioles.