Championship Round - 2023 NHS Goal of the Year

Keller Willis celebrated his State Championship clinching goal with his teammates. Unfortunately there won’t be any celebrating in the NHS GOTY bracket. Keller was eliminated in the Final Four

Vinny Howard acknowledging the crowd and foreshadowing a similar celebration for hitting an absolute corker against Westfield

What a magical journey it has been. We started with 16 amazing goals from the 2023 season. We are down to the last 2. Who will claim bragging rights as the best goal scored during our 3rd consecutive State Championship season? Will it be Caden Rice’s martial arts style volley against Perry Meridian? Or will it be Max Tucker and his left footed strike that went top bins against Avon? Time and the voting will provide an answer. Click the links below to participate in the voting.

Youtube Playlist

Google Voting Form

The poll closes Sunday, April 21st at 11:59PM. Get your vote in while you can. You can help the winner of the bracket win some amazing NHS soccer gear, including retro NHS jerseys.

2023 GOTY Bracket: The Final Four has Arrived!

Ben Hewitt celebrates a goal against HSE. Noblesville won 2-0 thanks to Ben’s brace.

What seemed like a promising Elite 8 for freshman Ben Hewitt took a downward turn. Ben was the lone player to have 2 entries in the Elite 8. As we begin the Final Four, Ben has none. His game-saving goal against Warsaw was not enough to beat Max Tucker’s banger against Avon and Ben’s solo effort against Muncie Central was no match for Vinny Howard’s wonder strike against Westfield. The silver lining is that Ben has 3 more years to score more goals for your Millers and hopefully add GOTY to his state championship.

The 4 region winners remain. Keller Willis (Dollaske Region) vs. Max Tucker (Divis Region). Caden Rice (Hart Region) vs. Vinny Howard (Doering Region). Tell everyone to vote. Every vote matters. Keller Willis took down Alex Pursch by a SINGLE VOTE to make the Final Four. Videos and Voting Form are linked below.

Final Four Playlist

Google Voting Form

Polls close Wednesday, April 17th at 11:59PM. By the weekend, we will have a champion!

On to the Elite 8! NHS 2023 GOTY Bracket Continues On.

Unlike UCONN, there won’t be a repeat champion this year. Both of Sam Holland’s goal nominees bowed out in the Sweet 16. Sam had a wonderful career with the Millers but he won’t be taking home the 2023 GOTY crown.

And then there were 8. At the conclusion of the Sweet 16 round, almost every region was straight chalk (i.e. the higher seed won the dual), with the lone upset being Max Reason’s free kick against Southport beating Quinn Johnston’s beautiful diving header against Franklin Central in the Hart Region.

We had a decent turnout for voting in the Sweet 16. Let’s get even more votes for the Elite 8. The voting margins have been razor thin so if you still have a goal in the bracket, tell EVERYONE to vote for you. If you win, not only do you get bragging rights for the best goal of the year, but you also get your pick of a retro NHS soccer jersey to take home and flex all over your friends.

Here is a list of the players that have goals remaining in the bracket and how many goals they have in parentheses:

• Ben Hewitt (2)

• Vinny Howard (1)

• Alex Pursch (1)

• Max Reason (1)

• Caden Rice (1)

• Max Tucker (1)

• Keller Willis (1)

As always check out the procedures to vote below

1. Check out the bracket as it stands after the Sweet 16 round of voting HERE

2. Click on the link for the Elite 8 YouTube Playlist. Enjoy the amazing goals.

3. Cast your votes on this Google Form. Let’s get as much participation as possible!

Voting for the Elite 8 will be closed Sunday, April 14th at 11:59PM. Get your votes in now. The Final Four will open up Monday, April 15th (TAX DAY!!)

The NHS Goal of the Year Bracket is BACK! Welcome to the 2023 Edition.

Your 3x State Champs after beating Cathedral 2-0!

It was yet another banner year for the NHS boys soccer program. A 3rd consecutive state title, national recognition in the polls, and many players taking home post-season awards including Academic All-State, All-Conference, All-District, All-State, and All-American. But the crown jewel of the season is upon us. It is time to vote for the Goal of the Year! We’re glad you could join us on this journey to find the most impressive tally of the 2023 season. Who will join the wonder strikes of 2019 (Jack Miller), 2020 (Brady Horn), 2021 (Adam Eberhart) and 2022 (Sam Holland). Time and your votes will tell.

This year we have decided to slim down the bracket a little bit. Starting with 64 goals and voting 6 different rounds to get a champion gets a little daunting and time consuming. Therefore, we will be starting at the Sweet 16. 16 goals (14 from Varsity and 1 from both JV Black and JV Gold) have been chosen.

Check out the bracket HERE. Without further ado, let’s get to the voting.

• Enjoy the goals on the Sweet 16 YouTube Playlist

  • The playlist is set up to have competing seeds as back to back videos. Play two videos, pause to make your selection, and then move on to the next pair of videos. This year, the description of each goal is directly in the YouTube video description

• Cast your votes on this Google Form.

Voting for Sweet 16 will be closed Thursday, April 11th at 11:59 PM. Get your votes in now. The Elite 8 will open up Friday, April 11th in the morning after the Sweet 16 votes have been tabulated.

State Champs: Hamilton County Reporter Article by Richie Hall

Click this link to read the article and see a good photo gallery

Cole Thompson has had a lot of good games. He had his best of the season in the 3A final.

Blake Horn celebrates Noblesville’s first goal in their 2-0 defeat of Cathedral

Photo Credit: Grace Hollars / IndyStar

IndyStar Article By Brian Haenchen aka "Spooky Hank”

INDIANAPOLIS — Considering goalkeeper Cole Thompson's role in securing three straight penalty kick victories and the measly three goals allowed during Noblesville's seven-game run to a third consecutive Class 3A state championship, coach Ken Dollaske's comments following Saturday's 2-0 victory over Cathedral carried a little extra weight.

"He's had a lot of good games, but he decided to have his best one of the season tonight," Dollaske said. "In my opinion, he's the Player of the Year in the state of Indiana and I think this game proves it. Without him, without some of his reaction saves, this could have been a very different story."

Indeed.

Cole Thompson (GK) and Alex Pursch clear a free kick away from a Cathedral Player

Photo Credit: Grace Hollars / IndyStar

Thompson was unreal.

"This is awesome. We got those two before, but I was not satisfied," said Thompson, the 3A boys Mental Attitude Award recipient. "Going into this year, the goal was to win a third and thank the lord we did. What a game. That was a great way to end my career." 

Credited with seven saves on the night, the 6-0 senior was tested early and often by an expectedly aggressive and consistently dangerous Irish attack.

Thompson came off his line to deny Kurzawa one-on-one less than 10 minutes into regulation, then jumped over 6-0 defender Kenyon Neal to save a free kick a few minutes later. Thompson preserved the 1-0 lead right before halftime, tracking a free kick and making the diving save on a Kurzawa header with relative ease.

Asked for his favorite Thompson save, Dollaske cited a play from the second half when the ball deflected off a Noblesville defender's leg, which required Thompson to plant, then replant before moving to his left to make the save at the far post. "It was unbelievable," Dollaske said.

"Cole tracked the ball, then he re-tracked the ball after the deflection and he was still on it," he continued. "It's just phenomenal to watch him. Whatever college he ends up going to is going to get an unbelievably talented goalkeeper."

Cathedral, which totaled 80 goals in 24 games, was credited with 16 shots, but was unable to break through resulting in its first shutout loss since Sept. 19 at Carmel (nine games). 

Kurzawa and Fynn Lahrsen (51 goals combined) accounted for 10 of their team's 16 shots.

"We had some really good chances, we just couldn't finish and their keeper's good," Cathedral coach Joel Russell said. "And then I think we missed the frame on a couple we shouldn't have. … Thompson's a good keeper. We knew we were going to have to beat him. He wasn't going to give us anything." 

The plan, Dollaske said, was for Kasole Williams and Keller Willis to keep switching off Kurzawa and understanding that if he wasn't the guy, he would be looking for a slip pass to someone else. "They were dangerous tonight, but we were able to keep them in check." 

"I just did my job," Thompson said, turning attention to the 10 in front of him, specifically his backline and midfielders: Williams, Willis, Blake Horn, Jake Hall, Vinny Howard, Max Reason and Alex Pursch.

"The back four and the midfield, then everybody up the field did their job tonight," he continued. "We scored two in the first half, held onto that and defended like crazy. Ultimately, the entire team played absolutely incredible." 

Thompson picked an ideal night for his best game of the season; Keller Willis picked an equally ideal moment to score his first goal of the season.

Ahead 1-0 following Ashton Craig's score in the ninth minute, Willis headed in a free kick from midfield to double the Millers' lead with 4:24 left in the half. 

Noblesville's first goal forced Cathedral to move Lahrsen up with Kurzawa, Dollaske observed; the second resulted in a three-forward formation, which opened things up for the Millers in the second half, leaving them with ample time and space.

"It made us dangerous, too," Dollaske observed. "We were able to get really good crosses and we were able to get down the flank. Us getting those goals allowed us to play a little more free-flowing until the last 4-8 minutes because they were pressing and getting as many bodies forward as possible." 

Noblesville (18-0-5) joins North Central as the only boys soccer teams in state history to win three consecutive state championships. The Panthers won three straight from 1994-96.

Cathedral finishes the season 17-5-2.

Noblesville soccer eyes another 3A title sweep: 'Their success is our success.'

Brian Haenchen

Indianapolis Star

NOBLESVILLE — Noblesville girls soccer coach Mike Brady wasn't planning to arrive early for last year's Class 3A state championship game at IUPUI's Michael A. Carroll Stadium. But Meredith Tippner ask Brady if he'd change his mind since her older brother, AJ Tippner, was playing in the championship game with the Millers' boys team. The long-time head coach didn't want his players getting too hot or worn out, the junior forward recalled, but "he knew the importance of family and the connection between the two programs," and brought them to the field. 

The boys successfully defended their state title vs. Columbus North, then the girls topped rival Carmel to win their third championship in four seasons shortly thereafter.

Noblesville Millers Atley Pittman, Lily Ault, Sam Holland, Max Reason, Meredith Tippner, and Cole Thompson pose for a photo on August 9, 2023 at White River Elementary Soccer Complex in Noblesville. Grace Hollars / IndyStar

"Being able to see AJ compete and be able to win it, it was like, 'OK, he did it. Now it's my turn,'" said Tippner, who has 22 goals and five assists this season.

The Noblesville soccer programs have followed similar trajectories since the mid-2010s.

Following semistate losses to Penn in 2016 and 2017, the Miller girls strung together a 55-game unbeaten streak between 2019-21 that included two state championships, then claimed the program's third title last season. 

Though more recent, the boys' run has been no-less prolific with coach Ken Dollaske's team securing championships in both of the program's finals appearances (2021-22).

"Their success is our success and vice versa," Dollaske said. "We see them succeed and it makes us want to succeed even more. It's just two very competitive programs pushing each other to be the best."

The Millers return to Michael A. Carroll Stadium on Saturday for the 3A state soccer championships. 

The top-ranked boys (17-0-5) will try to join North Central as the only boys teams to win three straight championships against No. 11 Cathedral (17-4-2) at 4 p.m. A couple hours later, the No. 3 Noblesville girls (16-1-3) will defend their title against No. 11 Bloomington South (18-2-1).

Should Noblesville sweep the boys and girls soccer state championships, it would join Evansville Memorial as the only schools to do so multiple times (2008, 2017). 

"We've created a culture of success (with both programs) where players come into the program and they know what's expected of them," Brady said. "They know the bar is set awfully high and they know they're absolutely going to have to earn their spot. I've watched our culture over the years, and I've certainly seen what coach Dollaske has created (with the boys) and that same culture has put them in position to win Saturday."

That success draws players to the program, Dollaske added. It's been sustained by the culture component, with the upperclassmen setting the tone for their teammates, current and future, as well as their younger siblings.

Junior IU commit Atley Pittman (seven goals, seven assists) remembers going to her older sister's games, hoping to one day have the opportunity to play for the Millers. 

When Tippner's dad would ask her what she wanted to do in high school, the multi-sport standout would reply: "I want to play varsity soccer and I want to win a state championship."

"I had seen girls do it before and I wanted to be like them," Tippner said.

Junior midfielder Lily Ault (five goals, seven assists) recalls watching her older brother, Butler sophomore Palmer Ault, lead Noblesville to its first state championship as a senior in 2021. He has been an inspiration, someone to look up to, Lily said. "And when they won their state championship, I wanted to be part of something like that."

Named Indiana Mr. Soccer his senior year, Palmer Ault was a generational talent and part of an extremely talented 2022 class that helped bring Dollaske's vision for the program to reality. 

Asked the inspiration for his approach — one which emphasizes chemistry among players (assigned readings on leadership, team-building exercises) and flexibility on his part when determining tactics — Dollaske talked about throwing around ideas with his staff and seeing what stuck following his promotion from freshman coach in 2017.

Noblesville went 7-6-4 in Dollaske's first season, but he wasn't worried about wins and losses. He wanted to start figuring out what worked and to begin putting his stamp on the program. The Millers won 11 games in 2018, then reached semistate for the first time since 2011 a year later. 

The progress under Dollaske was obvious, said senior forward Sam Holland (17 goals, seven assists), whose older brother, Spencer, played for Noblesville from 2018-21. The roster was loaded with talent and the new coach was excellent at motivating his players. "(After my freshman season), I knew that in a couple years we were going to have a couple rings," Sam smirked.

"(Dollaske) experiments with players and puts them in positions they might not usually play, sees how they do and tries to find the best fit from there," added senior goalkeeper Cole Thompson, who boasts a 0.66 goals against average with nine shutouts and three consecutive PK victories.  

Noblesville Head Coach Ken Dollaske talks to his team at halftime, Wednesday, October 9, 2019. Noblesville defeated Fishers 3-1 to advance to the sectional championship Grace Hollars / IndyStar

"I could see it coming (in middle school). We were starting to build a winning program."

Now in his 21st season as head coach, Brady is less clear on when he established that winning culture within his program. 

But step one was taking out Carmel.

A girls soccer dynasty, the Greyhounds have won 10 state championships, with eight coming between 1994-2004. Many of those postseason runs began with wins over Noblesville in sectionals. "It seemed like we were never going to get a sectional championship," Brady said. 

But as soon as the Millers beat Carmel in the 2008 sectional semifinals (0-0, 4-3 PKs), the rest of the state quickly began catching up. 

Of course, that's done little to slow the Millers, who have won seven sectionals, six regionals (the lone exception was 2021 vs. Homestead) and four semistates. "It's strengthened us," Brady observed.

"It's a different group of players each year, but they have the same attitude," he continued. "They're the same silly high schoolers that when the whistle blows, you have one of two choices. You win or you lose, and we're always going to try for the winning side."

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

Soccer: Millers are conference champs again

The Noblesville boys soccer team clinched the Hoosier Crossroads Conference championship Wednesday, beating Franklin Central 5-1 in a rainy game at Beaver Materials Field. It’s the third HCC title in four years for the Millers. (Richie Hall)

POSTED BY: RICHIE HALL SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

The REPORTER

The Noblesville boys soccer team is the Hoosier Crossroads Conference champion once again.

The Class 3A No. 1-ranked Millers clinched their third HCC title in four years by beating Franklin Central 5-1 on a rainy Wednesday evening at Beaver Materials Field. Noblesville finished conference play with a 5-0-2 record.

Ashton Craig scored two goals for the Millers, with Ben Hewitt, Sam Holland and Quinn Johnston all scoring one. Noblesville coach Ken Dollaske said that the team was able to get several junior varsity players that will be listed on the sectional roster some playing time in the game, a necessity since the sectional tournament begins on Monday.

The Millers also finished their regular season with this game. Noblesville went 11-0-5; Dollaske said his team has a “bend-not-break mentality, where at the end of the game, we’re either winning or at least we’re not down on the scoreboard.”

The Millers will host Sectional 8 this year, and of course enter as the two-time defending state champions. Noblesville plays Muncie Central in a Monday first-round game. Dollaske said his seniors on the team understand the pressure that exists in tournament play.

“They know us being down in a playoff game and not losing our composure and being able to come from 3-1 down like we did against Carroll last year,” said Dollaske. Noblesville trailed the Fort Wayne team by that margin in the regional championship game, but came back to tie the contest, then win on penalty kicks.

“So, having that experience is super important, and hopefully it makes our third run successful,” said Dollaske.

2023 Season Preview: Millers soccer teams hoping for successful repeat seasons with many returning players

Photo Courtesy of Kent Graham

POSTED BY: RICHIE HALL AUGUST 10, 2023

The REPORTER

It was, without question, the greatest day ever in the history of Noblesville High School sports.

The Millers’ girls and boys soccer teams became part of a very exclusive club on Oct. 29, 2022 when they both won a Class 3A IHSAA state championship. Add to that a state title from Noblesville girls cross country, and you had a school win three state championships in one day, an unprecedented feat.

With soccer about to get underway, the Millers are hoping for a repeat of their success. Both teams have plenty of returning players on their roster this year, including some familiar names.

“The boys are excited but dialed in,” said Noblesville boys coach Ken Dollaske. “They know they have a target on their backs.”

Many of those familiar names on the boys team were new names last season. When the Millers won state in 2021, they were led by a host of talented seniors, including Palmer Ault, the Gatorade Indiana Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

“Due to this, other teams didn’t have any expectations for us,” said Dollaske. “We were able to sneak by under the radar and then make a great run in the playoffs.”

Noblesville graduated another Gatorade Player of the Year: Sam Divis, the 2022 winner.

I don’t think we can do that again this year. Everyone knows we have the ability to reload and make another run. The boys want to keep this momentum going and can’t wait to prove themselves.”

This year’s roster includes five returning seniors: Goalkeeper Cole Thompson, forwards Craig Ashton and Sam Holland, midfielder Miles Tucker and defender Max Reason. Two juniors also return state experience: Defender Blake Horn and midfielder Keller Willis.

In addition, junior Kasole Williams joins the Noblesville team this year. Williams has been a student at NHS, but this is his first year playing high school soccer as he has played in the MLS NEXT league the past two years.

“Practices are going great,” said Dollaske. “We have a healthy mix of returners who have state championship experience and newcomers who are hungry to make a name for themselves and get their own state title. We are in the process of figuring out what formation (or formations) are going to be best suited to the personnel we have on the pitch at any given time.”

The Millers will scrimmage with Guerin Catholic at 5:30 p.m. today, and that will allow the Millers “to make these adjustments and tweaks and create our identity for the season,” said Dollaske.

Meanwhile, the Noblesville girls have been on an incredible run, winning three state championships in four years, and had the girls Gatorade Player of the Year last season in Ava Bramblett. But veteran coach Mike Brady said the team is focused on the present rather than the past.

“We’re not really thinking about last year’s accomplishment, for the players who were on the team, they have a lifetime to enjoy a State Championship, right now, we just want to see how good of a team we can become and see what this team can accomplish with many new contributors, so we’re a work in progress right now, but they are working hard and coming together, and that’s all I want from them at this point in the season,” said Brady.

The Miller girls also have a solid list of experienced players. Three seniors return significant minutes: Goalkeepers Delaney Martin and Isabella Wyatt and forward Sydney Elliott. Noblesville’s junior class has five key returning players: Forward Kadence Flick, midfielders Atley Pittman and Lily Ault and defenders Sadie Black and Meredith Tippner.

“We’ll have a lot of first time starters this season, so we’re at the infancy stages of coming together as a team, but it’s a talented group with a great attitude, so we’ll continue to grow as team and get better each day and see if we become that team we know we can by the postseason,” said Brady.

The Noblesville boys go on the road for their first four games, playing at Perry Meridian Tuesday and at old rival Carmel next Thursday, Aug. 17. That will be followed by games at Brebeuf Jesuit Aug. 19 and at Plainfield Aug. 21 before the Millers play their first home contest Aug. 22 against Avon.

The Noblesville girls also have a busy first couple weeks. The Millers play Cathedral Saturday morning to begin their season, with the game at the Pride Performance Center (11960 E. 62nd St. Indianapolis). Noblesville then has two home games, against Pendleton Heights on Wednesday and West Lafayette Aug. 19. The following week, the Millers go on the road for two Hoosier Crossroads Conference games, at Avon Aug. 23 and at Hamilton Southeastern Aug. 26.

2023-2023 College Signings!

It’s almost summer, which means it’s time to start thinking about the preseason for the upcoming 2023 Fall campaign. But before we do, we need to give one more shout out to our athletes going on to play at the next level. This year we had 3 amazing athletes commit to playing collegiate soccer. Congrats to Sam Divis (Northern Illinois), Landon Huber (Wabash College), and Owen Mejia (Army West Point). We will be rooting for you!