The Mishawaka Marian boys soccer team, ranked No. 2 in Class 2A, looks absolutely locked in to face their rivals, No. 13 South Bend Saint Joseph, in the sectional championship. It’s a matchup that’s been brewing all season, and the IHSAA just dropped the brackets for sectional play statewide, running from October 5-10, with those title tilts set for October 10.
Marian’s Path Through 2A
Let’s be real, Marian is rolling. They sit at an incredible 11-1 on the season. Their only hiccup? A 2-0 loss to Class 3A No. 14 Concord. But get this: they’ve absolutely steamrolled their opponents, outscoring 13 foes by a mind-boggling 57-9! We’re talking dominance. Just last Saturday, they pulled off a 4-3 win against Class 3A No. 1 Goshen, showing they can hang with the big dogs. And the last time they faced St. Joe, Marian snagged a tight 1-0 win in the final minute back on September 8 at Notre Dame. This team, which won a Class 2A state title in 2023 and dropped down from 3A this season, is hosting the regional too, so they’ve got home-field advantage on lock.
Other Title Aspirations Across Indiana
It’s not just Marian making waves. South Bend Adams is kicking off its own sectional title defense against LaPorte. The Eagles, who nabbed sectional and regional championships in 3A back in 2025, are the only squad in their sectional field with a winning record, currently sitting at 9-6. Even with losses to Marian, Penn, and Saint Joe in NIC play, they are the team to beat there. Over in the Elkhart Sectional, things are stacked, as always. Defending champ Concord, who has won three sectional titles in a row under coach Shawn McCuen, is set to clash with Goshen in a semifinal. Concord already edged Goshen 1-0 in a regular-season league matchup. And let’s not forget No. 19 LaVille, who despite a recent 3-1 loss to Class 2A Bremen, boasts a 9-1 record and looks like the team to beat in the Class 1A Trinity Academy Sectional. They’re up against Marquette Catholic in the first round.
Sectional championship games are October 10, then it’s on to regional semifinals on October 15, regional title games on October 17, and semi-states on October 24. The whole thing culminates in the state finals on October 30-31 in Indianapolis. The road to Indy is officially set, and it’s going to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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