Center Grove senior Addie Crowe (14) passes the ball to teammate Lexi Wilson during the regional final against Castle.
Daily Journal file photo
At no point this season has Myron Vaughn concerned himself with which number preceded his team in the weekly Class 3A poll.
Center Grove’s third-year coach’s thoughts are more centered around what comes after.
“I personally do not pay attention or look at the rankings,” said Vaughn, who’ll lead the Trojans into Saturday night’s state championship match against No. 2 Noblesville. “If you look at those, you either feel disrespected, or you feel you’re better than you may be. My view of it is they’re there for the fans.”
Vaughn prefers to allow the product he runs onto the pitch settle any potential disputes over where Center Grove stands among big-school teams in Indiana.
Considering the current squad was ranked 14th prior to the start of sectionals, probably a wise choice.
“I don’t think rankings really define us,” senior defender Addie Crowe said. “We’ve been the underdog going into regional and semistate, but if you let that get in your mind, it can stump you.”
Led by Crowe, classmate Maggie Marlin and junior Taylor Baier, the Trojans (16-4-3) hang their hat on an especially stingy back line that has played a huge role in the team outscoring their tournament opponents, 17-2.
In goal is sophomore Anderson Broshears, who has made 81 saves this season.
Center Grove has produced 12 shutouts this season and allowed a paltry 16 goals. Its upcoming opponent, though, will offer up the ultimate test, as the Millers — who’ve claimed four of the past five titles — are 18-0-2, have outscored foes 78-6 overall and are riding a 12-game win streak
None of Noblesville’s opponents so far tallied more than a single goal.
“I know they have two very good forwards and a very good midfielder,” said Crowe, a three-year starter. “It’s just about playing our game, and if we do that we’ll have a good shot at it. This year’s group is especially close. We all trust each other. Being a good, bonded team is what’s making us so successful.”
Vaughn’s first CG squad in 2022 made it all the way to semistate on the strength of a potent offense that finished 10 different matches with three or more goals.
The fact this group’s strengths lie elsewhere is what makes his job so enjoyable — and challenging.
“I was fortunate in my first year to have our team go to the semistate. It was a collection of players who complemented each other to go after goals,” Vaughn said. “This team is in that same vain, but our foundation is the way we defend. They’ve shown that we really have the ability to frustrate teams defensively. It’s fun. As a soccer coach, you assess what you have, and we knew early in the summer that would be the strength of our team.”
Center Grove is led offensively by sophomore forward Mia Marlin with 14 goals and six assists. Senior midfielder Brooklyn Brown is next with eight goals, followed by junior forward Jessie Jasek (six), senior midfielder Lauren Hopper (five) and sophs Aubrie LeMasters and Lexi Wilson with four apiece.
Another 10th-grader, Sadie McLaughlin, is tops in assists with seven.
Put it all together, and that No. 14 looks kind of ridiculous at the moment.
“We have eight seniors on the team who have played together since we were like 5 years old,” Hopper said. “Everyone on the team knew how good we are. We all had faith in ourselves.
“None of the outside noise mattered to us.”
IF YOU GO
IHSAA state finals
Where: Michael Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium, IU Indianapolis
Admission: $15 per game, children 5 and younger admitted free (All tickets digital and may be purchased through Eventlink)
Class A boys
Greenwood Christian (14-4-2) vs. Covenant Christian (18-1-1)
When: Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Class 3A girls
Center Grove (16-4-3) vs. Noblesville (18-0-2)
When: Saturday, 6:30 p.m.
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