It took four years, but the Tippecanoe men’s soccer team proved it wasn’t a one-hit wonder by capturing a 2nd state championship on Saturday afternoon.
The match featured 2 of the state’s winningest programs, Tippecanoe and Richfield Revere. If you had asked both teams’ coaches at the beginning of the season, they may not have expected such a deep postseason run, given what they lost last to graduation season. But a hallmark of great programs is that they reload, rather than rebuild each season. And that’s just what they both did.
It was also a battle of 2 of the state’s top goal scorers in Revere senior Dylan Halm and Tipp junior Landon Haas.
The latter got the better of the matchup, breaking a scoreless first half with a long strike from 35 yards out. It was reminiscent of his game-winner in the state semifinal when he placed the shot perfectly over the keeper’s head but under the crossbar.
Tipp added a second goal in the 66th minute when sophomore Colin Turner knocked in a Caleb Ransom pass. It was a brilliant play by Ransom, who collected a loose ball after a corner kick, beat his defender at the end line, and slotted a perfect pass to Turner between a pair of Minutemen. It provided a much-needed breather for the Red Devils against a dangerous attack that was threatening to tie it up.
All the Red Devils had to do from there was hold on. They did just that, recording their 15th shutout of the season, 16th straight win, and 20th straight game without a loss. They’ll carry the later 2 into the 2024 season looking to challenge the program record for undefeated streak (24 games) and winning streak (23 games).
This was the 3rd time Tipp (22-1-1) has reached the state title game in the last 5 years and the first win since beating Warren Howland in the 2019 title game.
Revere finishes the season 20-1-2, falling just short of its 2nd state title in program history.
Congratulations to seniors Michael Jergens, Hudson Owen, Jaxon Hill, Caleb Ransom, Carson King, Dominic Neilson, Grant Vonderheide, Keegan Fowler, Landon Luginbuhl, and Caden Turner, who get to go out on top.