Hamilton Southeastern’s Ayla Conn, Sloane May following win over Zionsville
Ayla Conn and Sloane May discuss Hamilton Southeastern’s 1-0 win over Zionsville on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023.
Brian Haenchen, Indianapolis Star
IndyStar will be recognizing the top soccer players in Indiana with our players of the week poll.
Scroll to the bottom of the article to vote. Voting is open until noon Friday.
To nominate players for consideration, email Brian Haenchen at [email protected] or message him on Twitter: @Brian_Haenchen. We will be accepting nominees for the upcoming week until Sunday at 10 a.m. EST.
Congratulations to Park Tudor’s Elliot Scotten on being voted Player of the Week for Sept. 11-16! He accounted for the team’s lone goal in a 5-1 loss to Covenant Christian on Tuesday, scored thrice in an 8-0 rout of Bethesda Christian on Thursday, then tacked on his fifth goal of the week (11th of the season) in a 2-0 win over rival University.
Player of the Week winners will be honored at IndyStar’s Indiana Sports Awards this spring.
More: Westfield soccer senior returns after ACL tear — then suffers another. ‘Stay positive.’
Boys sectionals: Scores, schedule, updated pairings
Girls sectionals: Scores, schedule, updated pairings
Here are the top performers from last week.
Anelson Azard, Pike
It was a record-setting week for Azard who totaled seven goals at the Marion County tournament with a hat trick vs. Warren Central, a brace vs. Ben Davis and solo goals against both Brebeuf Jesuit and Southport. He tied Josh Belpulsi for the school’s single-season scoring record against Brebeuf, then broke it in the finals vs. Southport with his 36th goal of 2023.
More: Pike’s Anelson Azard, Brebeuf girls set records in defending Marion County crowns
Nicolas Basso, Carmel
Basso, a senior midfielder/forward for the Greyhounds, registered an assist in a 3-0 win over Cathedral, then clocked a couple goals and an assist in a 7-0 win over New Palestine. He has five goals and three assists entering the final week of the regular season.
Channing Crawford, Avon
Crawford doubled her season goal total and lifted the Orioles to a 2-0 win over Lafayette Jefferson with a pair of second-half goals. She has four goals and two assists through 14 games.
Ethan Edwards, Cascade
The senior picked up four goals over three games. He struck twice in an 8-1 win over Southmont, then contributed scores in more closely decided wins over Scecina (3-1) and Northview (2-0). He also picked up his fourth assist of the season vs. the Crusaders.
Emma Gill, Whiteland
Gill accounted for both goals in Friday’s 2-0 win over Sheridan, giving her 51 for her career. She has 14 goals and five assists for the season.
Megan Hamm, Carmel
Hamm secured a 1-1 draw with rival Noblesville on Monday, netting the equalizer in the second half. The senior has nine goals and 11 assists this season.
Alan Maldonado, Christel House
Following a flurry of shots by he and his teammates, Maldonado finally broke through for the Eagles in the opening round of the City Tournament vs. Purdue Polytechnic, breaking a 1-1 tie with 14:43 left in regulation. His goal lifted Christel House to its first City Tournament win in school history.
Olivia Malicoat, Tri-West
The senior defender scored twice and added an assist in a 9-0 win over North Montgomery, helped the Bruins maintain a scoreless stalemate vs. Danville (won in PKs) then finished off her week by scoring her seventh goal of the year vs. Frankfort.
Kervens Saint Paul, Speedway
Saint Paul found the back of the net early and often through the first two rounds of the Marion County tournament, pouring in four goals against Franklin Central on Monday, then chipping in two in a win over Lawrence Central on Wednesday. He has 25 goals on the season and 52 for his career (two seasons).
Phoenix Vondersaar, Hamilton Heights
The senior found the back of the net in the second half to secure a 1-1 draw with University on Tuesday. He followed those heroics with a pair of goals in a 10-1 rout of Western, giving him 13 goals (and five assists) for the season.
Kambree Watkins, Lawrence North
Watkins sent the Wildcats to the Marion County championship game for the first time since 2017, scoring on a set piece from well beyond the box with about nine minutes left to secure a 2-1 semifinal win over Franklin Central. She also scored twice against Decatur Central in the quarterfinals.
Ava Wilson, Shelbyville
Wilson added six goals to her season total last week, scoring twice in a 3-2 win over Martinsville, netting a hat trick in a 9-0 win over Triton Central and netting the game-winner in extra time against Greenfield-Central (1-0). She has 23 goals and 12 assists this season.
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.
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