igers Score Back-to-Back State Championship Titles
Andrew Cross scored twice in the first 15 minutes and Evansville Memorial made the goals stand up for a 2-0 over Fort Wayne Concordia in the boys Class 2-A state championship game at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium Saturday.
The championship is the second straight for the Tigers (20-2-1) and also gives the school a sweep of the 2-A titles for 2017. The Memorial girls beat South Bend Saint Joseph, 3-1, earlier Saturday in that championship game. It marks the second time in IHSAA history that the same school has won both boys and girls titles in the same school year. Memorial also accomplished the feat in 2008.
Memorial took the drama out of the contest early on as Cross picked up a pass from Marky Lara and hit the back of the net at the 3:48 mark.Cross got the final goal (his 24th of the season) at the 14:26 mark. That goal was unassisted.
Goalkeeper Caleb Meeks did the rest, recording the shutout with two saves. Concordia (17-3-4) managed only six shots during the contest, while Memorial recorded 20.
Memorial, under long-time head coach Bill Vieth, has now won four state championships in program history.
Ben Loshe of Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran earns C. Eugene Cato Mental Attitude Award
Ben Loshe of Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne was named the winner of the C. Eugene Cato Mental Attitude Award, sponsored by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, for Boys Class 2A Soccer by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee.
The Cadets’ team captain has led his team to their first sectional championship in his high school career, followed by regional and semi-state titles to reach the State Finals. Loshe, as a midfielder, has been instrumental in the team setting a program record for shutouts and allowing only 14 goals on the season. Ben is also very involved in school and community organizations, like being the vice president of the National Honor Society and serving as a leader in his Church Youth Group. In addition, he volunteers his time for St. Joe Soccer as a referee and coach for youth games.
The son of Dale and Michelle Loshe, Ben plans on attending either Purdue or MIT to pursue a degree in Engineering.
The IHSAA Executive Committee, on behalf of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, will award a scholarship for $1,000 to Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran High School in the name of Ben Loshe. Since 1989, almost $900,000 in college scholarships has been presented to deserving high school students in Indiana.
