When it comes to girls high school soccer in the postseason, never underestimate the power of defense.
The teams from Homestead and Carroll will meet for the Angola Regional title at 7 p.m. Wednesday having played three tournament games apiece - and neither one has surrendered a goal in regulation.
Snider, which plays Blackford in the Bellmont Regional at 7 p.m. Wednesday, has allowed only one goal in three games, and that came in a 12-1 opening-game win over Wayne.
Credit in part goes to the goalkeepers - Homestead's Samantha Scaringelli, Carroll's Skyler Reed and Snider's Krysta Hedrick - but also to the defenses as a whole.
“I know we're playing very well as a team,” Snider coach Jim LaBorde said. “I think our confidence level is very high at this point. We've come through a lot of adversity and we still are, but the girls are stepping up when they need to at the right time.”
LaBorde said his defensive anchors in front of Hedrick have included Molly Cade, Sarah Freygang and Lizzy Foss.
After advancing to the state finals and finishing second last season, Snider has fought through a variety of injuries, with three players being essentially lost for the season: Liv Borkenstein, Taryn Ellis and Cori Nunley. Borkenstein, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, tried to return to action the last couple of games, but her knee wasn't ready. LaBorde doubts she'll play the rest of the way.
Alli LaBorde, who has been out with a back injury, has returned to the lineup and is playing well, allowing Tracey Tiernon to move back to forward and improve the Snider offense.
Taylor Stevens has been doing an excellent job as a playmaker, Coach LaBorde said, with Liz Carr also connecting offensively.
“Our goals are coming from a lot of different girls, not just one or two,” LaBorde said. “We're playing well all the way around, from goalkeeping to defending to our goal scorers. You can't really pinpoint anybody as standing out. It's all about team play now.”
Snider, which beat Bishop Luers 3-0 to win the Bellmont Sectional, will have its hands full trying to defend Blackford's Ali North, who has scored 41 goals this season. Blackford has lost only one game.
“They beat a decent Marion team and a decent Huntington North team, so they have to be pretty good,” LaBorde said.
Homestead and Carroll, meanwhile, won't have too many mysteries when they square off in Angola.
The two Northeast Hoosier Conference teams are longtime rivals. Homestead won the regular-season game 2-0, but both teams have improved immensely since that time.
Again, neither team has allowed a regulation goal since the tournament began. Homestead's offensive strength centers on seniors Gabby Denning and Ann Eichman, but freshman Kelsey Wendlandt has scored four goals in the last two games.
“We've found a way to dig our heels in and work hard for 80 minutes a game,” Homestead coach Katie Hathaway said. “We've come together as one team working toward one common goal. I don't have a lot of superstars on my team, but I have a lot of good soccer players finding a great connection to get the job done.”
Carroll knocked off previously unbeaten Leo in the Angola Sectional, winning 1-0 on penalty kicks (4-1). Homestead beat Concordia Lutheran 1-0 to win the Canterbury Sectional.
Carroll coach Rick Smith, who coached Hathaway when she was in youth club soccer a few years ago, expects another tight battle.
“I think we're playing better than we were (the first Carroll-Homestead game),” Smith said. “We've played so many games against good competition, our freshmen are growing up. The strength of schedule we play and the kids have played in club soccer, they're used to playing tougher competition, even though they're only freshmen.”
Smith said he is getting solid leadership from his older players, including his only four-year starter Raegan Perkey, who is driven in her quest to win a regional title for the first time.
“She's been on four sectional champions and she'd like to take it up one more notch,” Smith said. “She's been one of our leaders and a huge plus for us. We'll see what happens. Hopefully both teams will play hard, it won't come down to a fluke or bad hop or questionable call, and whoever wins, wins.”
One thing is certain: An early goal in this stingy postseason atmosphere could make a huge difference.
