HS: Players, Teams to Watch at Eagle Invite

by Sheldon Shealer

September 2, 2016

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. – Nine of the 19 girls varsity teams competing in the Zionsville Lady Eagle Invitational this weekend are ranked in the SIMA FAB 50, and three other teams are or have been in their respective state rankings this season.

It’s that combination of quality and quantity that has made the Lady Eagle Invitational one of the must-see events of the fall high school season. Top programs from Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio will battle it out in the mixer, which is played at the Zionsville Youth Soccer Association complex. Each team is scheduled to play twice with host Zionsville picking up a third match.

STORYLINES

Is Penn the One?: Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.), No. 4 in the latest SIMA FAB 50, carries a 7-0 record into this weekend’s event where it will face two out-of-state opponents: SIMA FAB 50 No. 26 Notre Dame Academy (Ky.) and No. 33 Brunswick (Ohio). If Penn wins both matches, it is possible this team could take a perfect record into the postseason and would become a strong contender for the SIMA FAB 50 No. 1 ranking.
In Need Of Results: Four of Kentucky’s top teams are competing this weekend in Zionsville, and the state is in need of some quality regional results. Notre Dame Academy (Ky.) handed Mason (Ohio) its only loss en route to a SIMA FAB 50 No 26 ranking. However, Notre Dame Academy then fell 4-1 to Cincinnati [St. Ursula Acadmy oh-w] (Ohio) this week, the same St. Ursula squad that lost to Mason earlier in the season. Last year, Kentucky teams went 3-8 at the Zionsville Lady Eagle Invitational and four of the teams finishing dead last in their respective pool.
Point of Reference: Brunswick’s showing this weekend against two of Indiana’s stronger programs could help reshape the Top 10. Brunswick’s last outing was a 3-0 loss to Strongsville, a SIMA FAB 50 Top 10-ranked team, and Friday Brunswick takes on No. 4 Penn.