Evansville Mater Dei Wins in OT to Claim Girls 1A Soccer Title
Freshman Miranda Nosko’s goal in the second overtime period provided the only score in Evansville Mater Dei’s 1-0 victory over Wheeler in the Class 1-A girls state championship game Saturday at IUPUI’s Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium.
The teams played 80 minutes of regulation and the first seven-minute overtime period toe-to-toe before Nosko claimed a pass from teammate Morgan Gries and beat Wheeler goalkeeper Cheyenne Foor at the 97:28 mark. It was Nosko’s sixth goal of the season.
Mater Dei goalkeeper Sabrina Henderson played 96 minutes, making five saves, while Jada Paul played the other four minutes to combine for the shutout. Both keepers are sophomores.
Foor had nine saves for the Bearcats, who suffered their first loss of the season (21-1) in their first-ever state finals appearance.
The Wildcats (13-6-4) claimed its first-ever girls soccer championship with the victory after runner-up finishes in 2014 and 2015.
Francesca Zeitler of Wheeler earns Mental Attitude Award
Francesca Zeitler of Wheeler High School was named the winner of the Mental Attitude Award, sponsored by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, for Girls Class A Soccer by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee.
The two-time team captain and three-year starter has been a part of two sectional championship teams at Wheeler in addition to winning regional and semi-state titles this season. Francesca was named a 2016 Indiana Soccer Coaches Association Top Team Player and the Wheeler High School Most Improved Soccer Player the same year. Zeitler also excels in the classroom, where she is ranked 3rd in her class of 126 students. She is an active member in both Student Council and the National Honor Society, and has volunteered for programs like the Texas 4000 for Cancer, Popcorn Festival and the Lunch with Santa program. Despite two unexpected tragedies this past year – losing both her older sister and father – Francesca has persevered and led by example in the classroom, in her community, and on the field.
The daughter of Peggy Griffith, Francesca plans to attend Grand Valley State University to further her education.
The IHSAA Executive Committee, on behalf of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, will award a scholarship for $1,000 to Wheeler High School in the name of Francesca Zeitler. Since 1989, almost $900,000 in college scholarships has been presented to deserving high school students in Indiana.