No.19 Girls' Soccer to kick off season with three ranked foes

By Keelen Barlow

The Brownsburg' Girls' Soccer team opens their 2020 slate with three ranked opponents later this week. Brownsburg will host IHSAA Class 2A No.5 Brebeuf Jesuit at The Pitch tomorrow night. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. Following the matchup with the Braves Brownsburg will take on No. 18 Chesterton and Class 2A No.3 Mishawaka Marian in a Saturday doubleheader at Zionsville High School.

The 2020 Bulldogs

Brownsburg is coming off another strong season under fifth-year head coach Josh George. The Bulldogs posted a 9-6-3 record in 2019 and appeared in their first IHSAA Sectional Final since 2012. Grace Crawford, the Bulldogs leading scorer from 2019, is back for her senior campaign after netting a career-high seven goals last year. ISCA Third-Team All-State Selection Jayden Gibson and First-Team All-HCC selection Kylie Conrad return as key cogs for the Bulldogs.

2018 ISCA All-State Selection Abby Lynch is also back for the Bulldogs this fall after she missed last season with a torn ACL. Lynch has scored 18 goals in her 36 games as a Bulldog.

On the back-end Brownsburg returns a pair of key pieces. 2019 All-County goalkeeper Alanna Dixon is back after appearing in 18 games last year for Brownsburg. Defender Sarah Boucher is the lead returner for the Bulldogs defender group.

Scouting the Braves

Local powerhouse Brebeuf is back in the mix yet again in 2020 as the Braves come in ranked No.5 in the ISCA Preseason Poll from last week. Brebeuf went 15-6-2 last year and fell in the IHSAA Regional Final to South Dearborn. The Braves return three of their top five scorers from last year. That group includes Courtney Kelley who was tied for second on the team in goals. Sophomore Mia Winters is back after netting 8 goals last year as a rookie.

Scouting the Trojans

Chesterton is ranked one spot ahead of Brownsburg in the preseason ISCA poll. The Trojans went 13-4-1 in 2019 and fell in their IHSAA Section Final to Valparaiso. The leading returner for the Trojans is Addy Joiner, a Valparaiso commit. Joiner scored 25 goals last year in just 17-games for Chesterton. Gina Geenen and Grace Bamber also return after combining for 17-goals in their freshman season.

Scouting the Knights

Marian comes in ranked as one of the best teams in Class 2A after notching a 14-2-2 record and an IHSAA Semi State appearance last year. The Knights are led by a pair of juniors in Grace Weaver and Mary Rice. The duo combined for a total of 25 goals a season ago. Weaver dished 17 assists last year to go with her 14 goals.

Up Next

Brownsburg returns to The Pitch next Monday to host McCutcheon for a 7:15 pm kick time. HCC play begins on Aug. 26 with a trip to No.3 Hamilton Southeastern.