WEST LAFAYETTE - "Baconator! Baconator! Baconator!," yelled Harrison junior Ivan Gutierrez as Franklin Gutierrez took a corner kick during the fifth minute of the IHSAA first round of sectionals.
The Raiders were already ahead 1-0 against Lebanon but had a couple of tricks in their boots ready to go.
A simple six-foot pass by Caceres to Gutierrez before a right side phalangeal touch to Caceres who crossed to the right corner of Aaron Dewell. Dewell with a simple tap of his right foot, nicked the left post before rolling easily to the back of the net.
Tic tac toe. Perfection. Another well orchestrated play for No. 4 ranked Harrison, one of the hottest teams who buried Lebanon early 8-0 using one of its many fast food inspired set piece plays.
More: How Harrison soccer manager Aldo Robles overcame brain tumors and being cut from varsity
Harrison (13-0-4) will play McCutcheon in the IHSAA Class 3A semifinals on Wednesday.
The other set plays on the menu served up by Harrison (13-0-4) include the Big Mac, Whopper, Bama and Madrid.
"I wanted to give a shoutout to 'Unc' Eli Pounds," Gutierrez said referring to assistant coach Eli Pounds. "He draws up the set pieces and we practice our set pieces and we convert off it."
The game of soccer has become as much an artform as it is a repeated challenge to execute for Harrison. The Raiders have won nine straight matches since tying Lafayette Jeff 2-2 on Sept. 10.
Harrison has outscored opponents 51-1 during a blazing run that's extended into the playoffs.
Playing the lead role is Gutierrez who scored another goals while adding his third consecutive hat trick on Tuesday night. Gutierrez has found the net 25 times - the most in the state of Indiana after Monday night.
"I feel like the team is just playing really well," Gutierrez said. "We switched formations and team has been clicking. I've been finding the ball a lot and scoring."
Nicknaming set pieces is fun for Harrison, but co-captain Jonny Escobedo explained the purpose and detail in scoring off the free kicks and corners.
More: Cast your vote for Journal & Courier Athlete of the Week (Sept. 30 - Oct. 4)
"We make sure we practice our free kicks and corners and penalties because in a close game, one of those goals can win us a game," Escobedo said. "We just got to always be ready sure to perform on those plays when the game is close."
Harrison kept its focus and energy high against Lebanon (5-10-1) who it played four days prior and won 11-0.
Escobedo said there was an emphasis on maintaining its focus against an opponent it had dominated.
"I feel like we have a standard and all season long we've kept to that standard whether that's our coaches or our players or captains," Escobedo said. "We can't let off just because we are ranked. We have a target on our backs. One slip up and it becomes survive and advance. We got to always be at the top of our game."
McCutcheon clicking on multiple levels
The pace of the ball between defense, to midfield and transition to attacking was quick and sharp for McCutcheon.
A defense led by seniors Hayden Wagner and Diego Morales carried on from the first minute to the creative passing of midfielder Angel Tovar to the boots of Nery Pacheco and Ricardo Puentes-Ruiz.
Pachec and Puentes-Ruiz each added two goals and McCutcheon outpaced Kokomo 5-0
"The goal was to just step to the ball and not let them get to within shooting range," Wagner said.
Pacheco put the pressure on Kokomo early with his first goal in the fourth minute. Leveling with Pacheco was pressure from Wagner and Morales that sucked in all space with their marking before sending the ball forward and creating goal scoring opportunities.
Kokomo (12-3-1) didn't have a single shot on goal in the first half while aided by goalkeeper Alan Lopez. Lopez made 13 saves but couldn't help his team's eroding defense against the relentless McCutcheon pressure.
"We played as a team and nobody got on each other for making a mistake," Wagner said. "We got no yellow cards which I was surprised and we played good as a team."
More: IHSAA football: Top 10 Lafayette area performances from week seven
Pacheco scored a highlight reel second goal in the 52nd minute with three defenders bearing down on his shooting space. Pacheco shouldered through one defender and struck a ball that found the side of the net.
"I saw him coming over to my left side and so I just chopped it," Pacheco said. "I saw the keeper was on the near post and saw the open space, so I shot it there."
McCutcheon (14-3) has flown under the radar in Indiana despite having several marquee wins against local programs like West Lafayette. It's three losses have come against ranked programs like Harrison, Zionsville and Fishers.
Two of the three losses have been decided by one goal.
Now the Mavericks enter its Wednesday semifinals rematch playing its best soccer of the season, looking to put an end to Harrison's state championship aspirations and creating their own.
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com , on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson .
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Harrison and McCutcheon boys soccer will face off in sectional semis after strong first-round
Local News
Comments / 0