IHSAA men’s soccer guide, Central Indiana’s huge week schedule

This week’s Central Indiana boys high school football The program is insanely good. Almost too good, in fact. Too much for one person to keep track of on their own. So to help out my fellow football fan, I’ve put together a guide to this week’s best deals.

One parenthesis: Imagine Indiana running a proper state tournament and seeding at least half the field. Those round-robin matchups would carry serious juice, with teams jockeying for position and predictions changing nearly every night.

One day…

Goals, saves and penalties: Vote for IndyStar men’s soccer players of the week (September 16-21)

From the inside: The best deals from the penultimate week of the Indiana high school girls soccer season

Records are current as of Monday afternoon. Teams are 3A unless otherwise noted.

TUESDAY

No. 12 Carmel (3-3-3) at No. 2 Noblesville (7-0-6) at 7 p.m.

It’s the second of four games this week for the Greyhounds, who visit Cathedral on Monday. They’re still a bit of a mystery with a nearly all-new roster and a loaded schedule, but we’ll learn a lot with games against Cathedral (Monday) and Noblesville this week.

No. 18 Brownsburg (7-3-2) at No. 11 Westfield (4-2-4), 7:30 p.m.

The visiting Bulldogs’ next three games are Westfield, Cathedral and Zionsville. A timely test for a relatively young team that’s been bolstered by strong offensive seasons from junior Micah Eldridge and the goal-scoring duo of Talon Collier and Will Orlando. Brownsburg lost by multiple goals to Hamilton Southeastern and Noblesville, but held its own against Fishers. Westfield is 1-2-2 since Sept. 10, but has an opportunity to build some positive momentum ahead of the divisional playoffs.

No. 4 Hamilton Southeastern (8-0-5) at No. 3 Zionsville (7-1-2), 7:30 p.m.

Both teams are trending in a positive direction. HSE overturned a 2-0 deficit in the second half to draw with Westfield, then tied with Noblesville two days later with a late goal by Cade Joniec. Zionsville overturned a 2-0 deficit against Noblesville with two goals by Arron Habecker. This will be HSE’s penultimate game of the season, with Zionsville having five goals. Notable for the Royals: Seven different players have scored more than once, led by Ameer Abu-Salih (6), Jack Anderson has nine goals, and Cam Joniec has been brilliant in goal.

WEDNESDAY

Marion County quarterfinals, 7:30 p.m.

The Lawrence Central-North Central quarterfinal would be fascinating. The Bears are 8-3-1 and have a 1-0 win over the Panthers earlier this month. If NC can beat Class A No. 16 Lutheran, it will be above . 500 at 5-4-1. If it can beat Roncalli on Monday, don’t underestimate Perry Meridian’s potential to knock off No. 20 Lawrence North or Brebeuf Jesuit.

THURSDAY

Pendleton Heights (8-2) at Mt. Vernon (8-3-1), 7 p.m.

This should serve as the de facto conference championship game. The host Marauders have a truly talented trio in Charlie Cole (12 goals), Ethan Ludlow (five assists) and Brady Webber (five assists), while the Arabians counter with Dylan John, Grayson Hovermale, Jack Weflen and Wyatt DeBertrand. Mt. Vernon won on penalties last year to end a four-game losing streak in the series. Expect a similarly tight finish on Thursday.

More: Deadly crash leaves him in coma for 7 days. Mt. Vernon junior is a ‘walking miracle.’

No. 18 Brownsburg – No. 9 Cathedral (8-3-1), 7 p.m.

Cathedral’s Cal Kurzawa remains a freak talent (19 goals, five assists) and the Bateman boys – Gavin and Quinn – are also having great seasons. Since a 3-1 upset at Center Grove, the Irish have swept Homestead, Southport and Roncalli. The latter two will add serious gloss to their resumes heading into the City tournament.

No. 3 Zionsville at No. 7 Fishers (7-3-2), 7:30 p.m.

The fact that Reid Spittler and Habecker will likely face off for the last time on the high school circuit is worth the price of admission alone, but Fishers is also having a strong September. It has won four straight and five of its last six games after a 2-3-1 start.

2 Noblesville – No. 1 Center Grove (11-0), 7:30 p.m.

The Millers are on a 45-game unbeaten streak (48 against in-state competition). That’s remarkable, especially considering the strength of their schedule. But after blowing second-half leads twice last week, a setback against Carmel or CG might not be the worst thing. Hit reset, you know? The Trojans, meanwhile, have won 10 of their first 11 games by more than a goal (they beat Perry Meridian 2-1 last week). They haven’t played a particularly tough schedule, but they’ll have a chance to pick up two more big wins with Noblesville and Fishers (Oct. 3) coming up.

No. 11 Westfield at No. 6 WL Harrison (8-0-4), 7:30 p.m.

I’m curious to see how the home team Raiders will do here. They are 1-1 against both Brownsburg and HSE and have won their last four games by a combined score of 21-0. Junior Ivan Gutierrez has 12 goals and 9 assists in 12 games.

FRIDAY

Marion County semifinals, 7:30 p.m. at Mary Bryan Elementary School

This year’s standings look much more open than in previous seasons, with two-time state champions Pike, LN, LC and NC all capable of consecutive wins, not to mention smaller schools led by 2A No. 7 Park Tudor, 2A No. 13 Speedway and Lutheran.

SATURDAY

No. 16 Lutheran (6-4-1) at No. 6 Greenwood Christian Academy (7-3), 10 a.m.

Two of the area’s top scorers will be on display in Saints senior Nate Hughes (11 goals) and Cougars junior Boden Campbell (14 goals), who could meet again in the section finals at Lutheran in a few weeks.

Marion County championship game at North Central at 3 p.m.

My prediction: Lawrence Central will pass Perry Meridian.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter @Brian_Haenchen.