Girls Sectional 2 – Chesterton
Valparaiso Vikings
Record: 7-1-2 in the latest current MaxPreps team listing
Conference: 5-0
Head Coach: R. Cespedes
Key player: Mia Smith
Goalkeeper: Lorelei Murphy
Valparaiso has put together a strong regular season and has been particularly effective against teams from this sectional. The Vikings have already beaten Portage 2-1 and Merrillville 7-0, while playing Chesterton to a 1-1 draw.
The Vikings also have quality results outside the sectional. They shut out La Porte 8-0, defeated Munster 4-0 and recently picked up a notable victory over South Bend Saint Joseph.
Mia Smith is one of the players to watch. The senior midfielder had five goals and eight assists in the latest available statistics, making her both a scoring threat and a creator. Senior goalkeeper Lorelei Murphy was averaging 2.3 saves per game.
Chesterton Trojans
Record: 4-4 in the latest matchup data
Conference: 3-1
Goals: 30
Goals allowed: 12
Head Coach: Ben Forgey
Chesterton’s record doesn’t tell the entire story. The Trojans have scored 30 goals while allowing only 12 through the eight matches reflected in the latest available matchup data.
Chesterton has also been playing well within the Duneland Conference, sitting at 3-1 in conference play in that data.
One of the most important results for sectional purposes is the meeting with Valparaiso. The two played to a 1-1 draw, showing there isn’t much separating the two teams when they’re at their best.
Hobart Brickies
Record: 6-2 in the latest available matchup data
Goals: 37
Assists: 15
Key player: Rylee Christman
Hobart may be the most interesting team in this sectional.
The Brickies have put together a 6-2 record, and the offense has produced 37 goals, according to the latest MaxPreps comparison data.
One result that jumps off the page is Hobart’s 8-0 victory over Portage on September 12. That’s particularly important because Portage is a possible sectional opponent.
Hobart also defeated Hammond Bishop Noll 4-1 on September 10.
Rylee Christman is one of the names showing up in Hobart’s current statistical comparison data. The Brickies had recorded 37 goals and 15 assists as a team through the available sample.
Defensively, the statistical comparison lists Hobart with a 2.286 goals-against average. That number is worth monitoring because preventing goals against teams such as Valparaiso and Chesterton will be crucial in the tournament.
Portage Indians
Record: 3-6
Conference: 1-3
Goals: 23 through the eight-game comparison before the latest update
Key player: Mali Kennedy
Goalkeeper: Lyla DeLeon
Portage’s overall record is below .500, but the Indians have an individual offensive threat who could make them dangerous in a tournament setting.
Junior forward Mali Kennedy has been outstanding statistically. She has 15 goals and 33 points, averaging approximately 1.9 goals per game, and has taken 44 shots.
That means a huge portion of the Portage attack runs through Kennedy.
Senior goalkeeper Lyla DeLeon has also been extremely busy, averaging 11.7 saves per game. That’s an impressive number, although it also illustrates how much pressure Portage’s defense has faced.
The Indians have experienced both ends of the spectrum. They beat Lowell 5-0, but lost 10-0 to Crown Point, 3-1 to Lake Central and 8-0 to sectional opponent Hobart.
Merrillville Pirates
Current reported record: 0-8 in the September 17 statewide schedule data
One confirmed recent result was a 7-0 loss to Valparaiso on September 16.
Merrillville’s biggest issue has been generating offense while preventing games from getting away. Valparaiso demonstrated that in the 7-0 meeting.