KOKOMO – A remixed version of the song “Sirius” blared out of the stadium speakers while the Hamilton Southeastern girls soccer team prepped during warmups.
The song -- forever linked to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls -- was the perfect pregame song choice for the No. 1 high school girls soccer team in the country. The reigning Class 3A state champion, who hasn't lost in over two years, graced Walter Cross Field for semistate on Saturday.
The Royals (22-0) outpowered a tenacious Crown Point team (14-4-3) with a 5-0 win to advance to the 3A state title game.
“We had to work a little bit to figure out their defensive scheme,” said HSE coach Greg Davidson. “We were able to find a goal even while we were doing that but then we made some adjustments and that really opened us up a little bit, especially to allow our midfield to get an attack when the top was kind of packed in defensively.”
Crown Point dared to take down the high school soccer juggernaut. Backed by junior goalkeeper Audrey Pagorek, the Bulldogs were worthy adversaries, but HSE outpowered them with depth by the final whistle.
Sophia Reising, a defender who entered Saturday’s contest with three goals, scored a header off a rebound for the 1-0 lead in period one. Fellow fourth-year Izzie Springer followed that up with a one-touch header for her second goal of the year.
"I think out of the air, we're just tall," Reising said. "Being able to find those teammates who had really good balls in the air. Just putting those away worked huge for us and just think being aggressive and getting into the attack is something I've been trying to do, so it worked out today."
After the Royals took a 2-0 lead into the halftime break, Reising chipped in her second goal of the contest with 19 minutes left. Rebekah Tekrony fended off defenders in the box and delivered her 11th strike of the year about four minutes later. Junior Lilly Palmer, who entered with two goals, closed out HSE’s scoring run with her own header.
“We are very deep,” said HSE junior Sydney May. “Every single person on the field and who comes off the bench is talented and we all just encourage each other to play at our best abilities. I think that goes really far in how we play with how we have a lot of depth. I think that’s why we’re able to have people who haven’t scored a lot of goals get their goals today because it’s not just one person on the team it’s the best. It’s every single one of us that put in the work to make us who we are.”
HSE 5, Crown Point 0
— Marc Ray (@themarcszn) October 24, 2026
Junior Lilly Palmer extends HSE’s lead with a header. @HSEAthleticspic.twitter.com/jAkHtLaj1b
HSE is one win away from further embedding themselves as the crème de le crème of high school soccer. The Royals were a week removed from a 4-3 thriller over Homestead and made the drive to Kokomo for semistate in their latest postseason business trip. After conquering Crown Point, they now have a clearer view of a second consecutive state trophy.
The Royals were all smiles after their latest victory, with some players breaking out some dance moves to celebrate. Their semistate win was a loud reminder of their excellence. More validation that they can dig deep into their lineup and flex their talent against anyone.
"I feel like we did what we've done all season - just be aggressive, stuck to our gameplan," Reising said. "We're a really talented team and when we work together I don't think there's anyone who can beat us."
The Royals will face Center Grove (17-2-2) in the 3A state title game at Michael Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium next Saturday.
Marc Ray is a high school sports reporter at the IndyStar. He can be reached at marc.ray@indystar.com , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 'We are very deep.' HSE, nation's top-ranked girls' soccer team, rolls into state finals