INDIANAPOLIS – Evansville Memorial senior goalkeeper Nick Boes remembered how he felt leaving the Carroll Stadium field in 2023.
The Tigers were seeking their seventh Class 2-A state championship a year ago with only Mishawaka Marian standing in the way. Unfortunately for Boes and his teammates, they fell victim to a record-setting day when Marian’s Eli Moody scored four goals in a 4-0 victory.
“The score line wasn’t (Boes’) fault,” EM coach Bill Vieth said, “but the goalkeeper takes it hard.”
“I was devastated,” Boes recalled. “We came in here confident and I was destroyed afterwards.”
What a difference a year makes.
This time, Memorial returned and took a 2-0 win over Fort Wayne Canterbury with Boes posting a shutout and making four saves.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment all season,” Boes said, barely able to contain himself amongst the postgame celebration. “Last year made us want this more and now we’re going home and going to have a good time.”
The seven state titles ties Memorial with Fort Wayne Canterbury for most in state history. Vieth has been coach for all seven, which ties him for the most in state history with Canterbury’s Greg Mauch.
“I feel great for the kids,” Vieth said. “It’s hard to get here and lose like we did last year. We didn’t really dwell on that; we just had it in our minds that we would do one better this year. We wanted to get better every step of the way and we got back here and played well.”
Top-ranked Memorial (19-2-1) finished on a 12-game winning streak with the last 11 coming by shutout. Boes carried the vast majority of the load in net, allowing only six goals all season.
The Tigers carried the attack for most of the title game, but didn’t break through until the 36th minute on an unassisted goal by Ivan Bennett.
Bennett lurked in front of the Concordia net and booted in a clearing attempt from about 10 yards out for a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers added an insurance goal in the 66th minute when Bennett sent a pass to junior Trey Hudak in front of the Concordia net and beat the Cadets keeper to the left side.
“We knew this would be a challenge,” Concordia coach Kevin Macke said. “We had some chances, but, unfortunately, we didn’t capitalize on ours and they did on theirs.”
The ninth-ranked Cadets were making their second state finals appearance after a runner-up finish in 2017. They finished the season at 15-7.
Class 2A Boys Records
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Andrew Bostwick of Concordia Lutheran named Cato Mental Attitude winner
Following the match, Andrew Bostwick of Concordia Lutheran High School was named the recipient of the C. Eugene Cato Mental Attitude Award.
Andrew is a four-year varisty starter for the Cadets. He served as Team Captain during his Junior and Senior seasons and has received numerous All-Conference honors for his play. He also participates in Track and Golf.
At Concordia, he’s a member of DECA, Honors Academy, andd Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He also takes time to work as a referee for his community’s youth soccer leagues.
The son of Brian and Danielle Bostwick of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Andrew is planning to attend Indiana University to study accounting.
The award is annually presented to a senior, who is nominated by his principal and coach, and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability during his four years of high school. The award is named in honor of Mr. Cato, who served the IHSAA as its fifth commissioner from 1983 to 1995. During his tenure, boys and girls soccer became the 19th and 20th sports to be sponsored by the IHSAA.
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, a proud corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to the general scholarship fund at Concordia Lutheran High School in the name of Andrew Bostwick.