Sectional winners advance to regionals
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Wednesday October 15, 2014
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In a self-aggrandizing display of our soccer knowledge, AlmanacSports correctly picked 4 out of 6 sectionals and a final but backing
the wrong horse in a fifth. Rivet not repeating as champs was our one bum pick of the lot. Congrats to each of the sectional winners
including two newbies, Northeast Dubois and South Knox.
Washington Regional
#5AA Memorial won what could be
considered an easier sectional, but the Tigers are highly deserving, winners of 11 straight titles. It's hard not to
consider their oppenents small fries as they look onward towards a state title. Memorial lost in the semi-state final
just short of the state championship last year and has the talent to return. They open regional play against Floyd Central.
#19AA Jasper won the local sectional
of death, its first title since 2011. The Wildcats last won regionals in 2005 when they lost to Memorial in semi-state (regionals
are now 2 games and semi-state one) so they could perceivably meet the Tigers in the same stage of the tournament. The two
met at the beginning of the season and are fastly becoming rivals despite Memorial leading the all-time record 15-1-1. Jasper must
get past TH North first--and should as the Patriots had difficulty with local Class A opponents.
View bracket
Forest Park Regional
#5A Gibson Southern earned its 6th sectional
title in 7 years. The Titans now have their best chance of advancing out of regionals with Mater Dei out of the way--the Wildcats
knocked them out of the postseason each of the past 5 years. Gibson Southern opens against PAC rivals Heritage Hills, whom the
defeated 5-1 earlier this season.
Heritage Hills won its first sectional title
since 2010 and its first in class soccer. South Spencer couldn't best the Patriots after defeating their PAC rivals 2-0 just the
previous week.
Northeast Dubois pulled off the upset against
Blue Chip champs #16A Washington Catholic. With homefield advantage, the Jeeps had to go to a penalty shootout to get its first win
over the Cardinals in 5 years. They then went on to defeat Pike Central for their first ever sectional title. NE Dubois now faces
South Knox in the opening round of the regional, a team they defeated 4-1 back in August.
Last year's sectional winner Vincennes Rivet lost to Sullivan, ending their season after beating them in the opener.
South Knox capitalized and repeated
the flip-flop trend beating the Arrows after losing in the regular season. The victory marks the first sectional title ever for
the Spartans.
View bracket
View previous state finalists
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Joe Engler
