Evansville Mater Dei Wins 2A Girls Title
A new class, but the same result for Evansville Mater Dei.
Coach Amy Weber’s Wildcats captured their third consecutive state championship with a 2-0 win over Fort Wayne Dwenger in the Class 2-A girls title game. Mater Dei had previously won the Class A titles the previous two seasons. The finals appearance marked the fifth in the last six seasons for No. 4 Mater Dei, which lost in the 1-A finals in 2014 and 2015.
The Wildcats (16-6-1) opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Megan Gries netted her ninth goal of the year with a shot from seven yards out. Lexi Kassenbrock was credited with the assist.
The insurance goal came in the 73rd minute when Este Bonnell, a freshman, blasted in a free kick from 19 yards out. Bonnell had been stopped on a free kick just a few minutes earlier.
Goalkeeper Sabrina Henderson did the rest, recording the shutout with five saves. Mater Dei held a 15-5 advantage in shots.
Dwenger, coached by James Ewing, was also seeking its third state title in program history after winning Class 2-A in 2005 and 2006. The Saints were also runners-up in 2007. Dwenger finishes 13-5-1.
Abigail Buczak of Bishop Dwenger earns Mental Attitude AwardÂ
Abigail Buczak of Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger High School was named the winner of the Mental Attitude Award, sponsored by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, for Girls Class 2A Soccer by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee.
The Saints’ senior team captain was undefeated in the 2019 SAC. Buczak has been an All-State player in 2017 and 2018, along with being a Sectional and Regional Champions in 2018 and 2019. Abigail is ranked 9th of 253 students in her class and is an active member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, and is the FBLA President. She was also awarded Academic All-State in 2018. Buczak spends her time volunteering at the Community Harvest Food Bank, participates in Bishop Dwenger High School Fundraiser ‘Saints Alive’, and tutoring children at the Euell Wilson Center.
The daughter of Jeffrey and Iris Buczak of Fort Wayne, Abigail is undecided about her college selection but is interested in pursuing a Chemistry degree.
The IHSAA Executive Committee, on behalf of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, will award a scholarship for $1,000 to Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger High School in the name of Abigail Buczak. Since 1989, almost $900,000 in college scholarships has been presented to deserving high school students in Indiana.