The Center Grove defense meets the rest of the team in celebration after defeating Evansville Reitz during Saturday’s regional final at Bloomington South.
Chris Williams | For the Daily Journal
BLOOMINGTON
Ali Wiesmann doesn’t start for the Center Grove girls soccer team, but her ability to finish makes her a valued commodity.
Rarely, if ever, has that been more apparent than in Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Evansville Reitz in a Class 3A regional final at Bloomington South.
Wiesmann, a senior forward, put her long stride and decision-making to good use with two breakaway goals — one in each half — to help send the seventh-ranked Trojans to semistate for the 18th time in their history.
Center Grove (17-2-2) will be at Seymour on Saturday for a 1 p.m. match against its longtime rival, No. 3 Carmel (17-2-2).
The teams met on Sept. 21, with the host Greyhounds winning, 2-0.
The Trojans have gone 8-0-1 since, outscoring opponents 23-3 in the process.
“Today was completely different from the last game,” said first-year Center Grove coach Myron Vaughn, referring to a 2-0 defeat of Reitz early in the regular season. “They played differently. We played differently.
“It was an open game, which was something we aren’t used to so far in this tournament. Our games have been really tight and defensive battles where we had to break teams down. Today was a wide-open affair.”
A golden invitation for Wiesmann, whose role is to change the game upon entering it.
The Trojans scored first off the left foot of senior midfielder Brooklyn Brown just over nine minutes into the first half. Evansville Reitz tied it shortly thereafter, senior midfielder Charli Miller’s kick finding the upper regions of the net.
Center Grove took a 2-1 halftime lead courtesy of Wiesmann’s breakaway at 9:38 before intermission. The senior placed the ball in the right side of the goal past sophomore goalkeeper Kylie Roberts.
Wiesmann found herself in the clear midway through the second half, her second goal of the match scored at the 19:43 mark. Senior defender Kayli Farmer got in the act with 2:38 left, her kick from the right side sneaking into the left side of the goal.
“Throughout the season, I think we’ve gotten better dynamically as a team,” Farmer said. “Today, I think we were able to stretch them out wide and ultimately shut them down.
“It was a bit of a shock to us when they tied us, but we responded well. My freshman year, we made it to the regional championship, but ended up losing to a PK basically. To be a senior now and make it this far, I don’t think there’s a better feeling.”
The Panthers appeared the aggressor early on, following the lead of senior forward Taylor Johnson.
“(Reitz) created so much danger for us in the first half with (Johnson) in the wide area. She just really causes problems,” Vaughn said. “Molly Tapak stepped up and took responsibility of defending her. From that moment on, I think she neutralized her to a point.”
Junior goalkeeper Sophia Gorall stayed busy, making 11 saves. Farmer, junior defender Reese Harmon and sophomore defender Addy Wiesmann all were credited with assists.
Miller’s goal for Evansville Reitz halted Center Grove’s seven-match streak in which the Trojans allowed no goals. Prior to Saturday, a 2-2 tie at Columbus East on Sept. 24 was the last time a goal had been surrendered.
Center Grove could’ve flinched, but didn’t.
“To think that we can give up our first goal in eight games, a lot of times that turns into doubt,” Vaughn said. “But then we went out and scored three more. That makes me extremely proud that they have that resiliency.
“These girls deserve everything they’re achieving right now.”
