Faith Christian soccer ends 2-year title drought, faces No. 10 team
Eagles advance to semi-state against undefeated defending Class A champion Blackhawk Christian
KOKOMO — Faith Christian boys soccer captured its first regional championship Saturday, defeating University 1-0 in a Class A contest at Taylor High School and ending consecutive years of one-goal losses to Covenant Christian.
The Eagles (17-2) advance to their first semi-state matchup against Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (17-0-2), the defending state champions ranked No. 2 in Indiana and No. 10 nationally by MaxPreps.
Senior Luke Miller scored the only goal with 15:48 left in the first half. Senior Grant Callan delivered a corner kick into the penalty area where senior Christian Carlson redirected it off his head toward University goalkeeper Aidan Reed. Miller tapped the deflection past Reed.
“My coaches told me to stick on the goalkeeper,” Miller said, according to the Lafayette Journal & Courier. “I didn’t think it was going to result in a goal or anything like that. It took no skill to tap one in, but I was lucky I was there and happy I was there as well.”
University (14-7) generated few scoring chances until a late second-half push. Faith Christian goalkeeper Calvin Smitley preserved the shutout while the defense limited the Trailblazers’ offensive possessions throughout the opening 65 minutes.
Head coach Kevin Johns described the roster’s approach as a blue-collar mentality built around chasing loose balls and outworking opponents through fatigue. The program adopted “scraps for state” as its season motto after falling 2-1 to Covenant Christian in the 2025 regional final and 1-0 in 2024.
“It’s not that we deserve anything,” Johns told the Journal & Courier. “It’s not that other teams aren’t working hard, it’s just that we’re going to go out there and we’re going to work harder than the next guy. … That’s kind of the identity that these guys have latched onto, and that’s how I want to keep it.”
Blackhawk Christian eliminated Morgan Township 9-0 in its regional game to reach the semi-state round. Bloomington South currently holds the top overall ranking in Indiana high school soccer.
“I really think whichever team wins, if it’s Blackhawk or anyone, I feel like we’re going to give them a battle and try our hardest, and do whatever we can,” senior Chase Mooneyhan said.
Chase Gemes covers high school sports and Purdue women’s basketball for the Journal & Courier. He can be reached at cgemes@usatodayco.com.
