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Moody's Four Goals Power Marian to 2A State Title
Class 2A Boys Soccer State Championship
Final | Mishawaka Marian 4, Evansville Memorial 0
INDIANAPOLIS – After falling short of their state championship dreams a year ago in downtown Indianapolis, the top-ranked Class 2A Mishawaka Marian Knights came back and finished the job Saturday afternoon at IUPUI’s Michael A. Carroll Track and Soccer Complex.
Mishawaka Marian senior Eli Moody broke a scoreless tie in the ninth minute with an unassisted goal en route to history, as he posted a hat trick in the second half to cement the Knights’ 4-0 shutout win over No. 3 Evansville Memorial.
Moody’s four goals marked the most ever for any individual player during an Indiana High School Athletic Association boys soccer state championship game, regardless of classification, and set overall four state finals records.
“I’m so shocked. It’s very special for sure. It’s extremely rare, especially in the state game, so I’m extremely happy about it,” Moody said. “This win was our main goal the entire season. We made it last year, and then we lost. This year, we wanted to make sure we got here again, and then today we got lucky and won.”
Fortune didn’t favor the Knights in 2022-23, as they lost to Brebeuf Jesuit, 1-0, in overtime during the program’s fourth state finals appearance since 2008 and first in 2A.
The heartbreaking setback motivated the Knights’ eight seniors and seven returning starters this season, which they concluded with a 20-2 record and a third state title overall and first in 2A for the program.
“It was on their minds all year. That was one of their goals to get back and to finish the job, so it’s great to see them accomplish a goal we set out at the start of the year,” Mishawaka Marian head coach Ben Householter said. “I’m so happy for those guys.”
The shutout victory for the Knights was the seventh posted in 2A state championship history since 1995. Mishawaka Marian’s Noah Balyeat (two saves) and Diego Gomez combined for the clean sheet.
Evansville Memorial (13-7-1) fired 11 shots – two on goal – but the Knights countered with possession defense and 12 shots with five on goal logged by Moody.
Moody’s first goal highlighted the midfielder’s finesse, as he maneuvered around five defenders in the box before he caught the goalkeeper out of position.
“I felt like the defense was caught off guard one time, and I took the opportunity. It worked this time,” Moody said.
His second goal came in the 52nd minute off a perfectly timed cross pass from senior Reid Gillis, who assisted two of Moody’s goals.
Moody posted his hat trick in the 54th minute after the Knights were awarded a penalty kick for a hard foul on senior Michael Boeppie.
“Someone said it when I was about to take that penalty. I thought, ‘Wow, that could really happen.’ What do you know? I scored another one,” Moody said. “It’s very special for sure.”
Gillis found Moody for a second time in the 71st minute with another cross pass. Moody collected the ball and beat two defenders before finding the back of the net.
“He’s been huge for us all year. Last year, for us to get to this point, he scored the game-winner against St. Joe in overtime, so he’s just an all-around great player,” Householter said. “He’s an all-around great kid. I can’t say enough about Eli.”
Moody’s three goals in the second half set a new 2A state finals team record for most goals in a half and most combined goals in a half.
His four goals tied a 2A state finals team record for most goals, most combined goals and led to a tie for largest margin of victory. Gillis’ two second-half assists tied the 2A marks for most assists in a 40-minute period and in a game. Defensively, Mishawaka Marian tied for fewest shots on goal allowed at two.
Individually, Moody became the fourth player to record a hat trick in a state championship game, regardless of class, including the single-class era.
His three goals in the second half set a new 2A state finals record for goals scored in a single half. Previously, Evansville Memorial’s Andrew Cross held the record with two (2016, 2017) and Evansville Memorial’s Isaac Bennett with two (2019).
His four goals in a single game are now a state record of its own, besting Chesterton’s Zack Bowser (2020, 3A), Park Tudor’s Francesco Nofrini (2022, 1A) and North Central’s Kei Tennyson (1996, single class) former hat-trick standards.
Gillis’ two assists tied Center Grove’s Kyle Parry for most in a single 2A state finals half, which was set in 2015. Gillis also tied Parry for most assists in a 2A state finals game.
“Last year, we didn’t get it done, so this year, finishing it, it was redemption. I’m glad we got to do it, and what a great way to end it. Great way to go out,” Gillis said.
“This was the best feeling in the world. Once we got our third one, I knew we had it. I love this team. This has been the best year of my life. I can’t think of anything better than this.”
Prior to Saturday’s historic win, Mishawaka Marian had won two Class A titles in boys’ soccer (2015, 2016). Evansville Memorial was aiming for its seventh state title overall since 2007, which would have tied them with Fort Wayne Canterbury for most in state history.
“Most of them were all here last year, so they knew what the experience was and what it takes to get back here,” Householter said. “The comment was that a lot of our regional and sectional celebrations were kind of muted. That was because I think they wanted to wait to get to this point again.”
Mission accomplished and history achieved.
“We’re so proud. In 2015 and ’16, they won it. We’ve always seen the signs out by our school, ‘2015 and ’16 state champions,’ so we’re just adding a part to that. We get to be a part of that now. It’s super special,” Moody said.
Memorial's Harding tabbed for Cato Mental Attitude Award
Following the match, Connor Harding of Evansville Reitz Memorial High School was named the recipient of the C. Eugene Cato Mental Attitude Award.
An Academic All-State honoree, Harding ranks eighth in his senior class of 143 students and is the Co-Captain of the soccer team. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Tiger Pride, and Business Club at Memorial. Connor is also a member of Memorial's basketball and golf teams. In his free time, he works as a soccer official for the youth leagues in his community.
The son of Paula and Jason Harding of Evansville, Ind., Connor is undecided on his college of choice but plans to study Physical Therapy.
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 Evansville Reitz Memorial High School in the name of Connor Harding.
