LAFAYETTE - McCutcheon senior Chloe Finney had practiced firing shots in practice in the lead up to the IHSAA sectional semifinal, where her team inevitably faced Harrison.
The same Harrison team that had beaten McCutcheon on last-second goals in back-to-back seasons. After two seasons of heartbreak, Finney made sure her team ended on the same high note as it began.
Finney scored in the 46th minute, and McCutcheon used high-volume pressure to limit Harrison's connections in the midfield to win 2-1 in the IHSAA 3A sectional semifinals.
"We worked really hard in practice, and we were doing some outside stuff," Finney said. "I feel like when we are scrimmaging, we are really hard on each other, and that helps us when we play games."
McCutcheon (8-9) will play Lafayette Jeff (6-7-3) for the IHSAA 3A sectional championship at 6 p.m. Saturday in a neutral home game at Ellison Stadium.
The Mavericks pulled out the victory without senior midfield and captain Ryleigh Scheumann. Scheumann missed the semifinals due to being issued two yellow cards in her team's final regular-season match against Tri-West Hendricks on Oct. 1.
Scheumann's absence forced McCutcheon to adjust its offense and make it revolve around freshman Jaicee Dossey and Finney.
Dossey scored the first goal on a 20-yard volley unassisted. Dossey took a ricocheted ball to her feet and fired a shot over the head of goalkeeper Morgan Saunders.
"It's just about my teammates and them making me feel comfortable during the game," Dossey said. "I have amazing seniors like Chloe that support me."
Harrison (11-5-2) tied the match in the 43rd minute after a cross by senior Caragyn Moodie to the outer post, assisted by sophomore Julie Boeke.
But a strike by Finney in the 46th minute forced Harrison to move senior forward Josey Hall into a more defensive position. McCutcheon commanded the position, and the Raiders couldn't replicate the 2024 and 2025 results when Abby Titlow and Ruth Moser had scored game winners.
Harrison head coach Amy Maxwell expressed the joy she had in coaching her daughter, senior captain midfielder Mia Maxwell.
"I've coached her her whole life and she's a different personality than I am," Maxwell said. "I've appreciated just learning that different personality and learning to coach a different personality and the unique bond we shared over the years. I'm not necessarily sad that it's over because we've had so many memories.
I'm just thankful for everything we were given, the different levels I was able to coach her in, starting when she was four, and then moving into travel. She's done an incredible job of not just developing into a great player but a great person as well."
McCutcheon utilized two goalkeepers in juniors Calli Fell and Madison Darnell. Both keepers each played a half and made two saves to help preserve victory for Mavericks, who are attempting to win their first sectional title since 2022.
"It's because of the fact that we are such even players when it comes to playing in the goal, and that was what coach (Tim Wagner) saw at the beginning of the season," Darnell said."If one had a bad game, he understood,but we are such even players both on and off the field."
Lafayette Jeff was led by sophomore Piper Burke, who registered a hat trick, while sophomore Sophia Bittinger added a goal to beat Logansport 4-0.
The Bronchos are looking to capture their first sectional title since 2010.
Burke credits the work of coach Cassie Dispennett, who roams the sideline wearing cleats. Dispennett played college soccer at IU Kokomo from 2021-24.
"She knows how to push us and be the best we can be," Burke said."Her experience having played in college,she just knows how to push us."
IHSAA 3A boys sectionals:
- Harrison 1, McCutcheon 0
- Logansport 6, Lebanon 1
- Final: Harrison (14-1-3) vs. Logansport (16-0-2) from Logansport. Kickoff at 2 p.m.
IHSAA 2A girls sectionals:
- Tri-West Hendricks 2, Crawfordsville 1
- Lebanon 3, West Lafayette 1
- Tri-West Hendricks (12-4-1) vs. Lebanon (12-3-3) from Lebanon. Kickoff at 7 p.m.
IHSAA 2A boys sectionals:
- West Lafayette 2, Frankfort 1
- Benton Central 5, North Montgomery 1
- Benton Central (13-5) vs. West Lafayette (8-10-1) from West Lafayette. Kickoff at 2 p.m.
IHSAA 1A girls sectionals:
- Faith Christian 10, Rossville 0
- Sheridan 4, Central Catholic 0
- Sheridan (12-3-1) vs. Faith Christian (14-1) from Faith Christian. Kickoff at 7 p.m.
IHSAA 1A boys sectionals:
- Central Catholic 3, DeMotte Christian 2
- Faith Christian 11, Rensselaer 1
- Central Catholic (6-11-1) vs. Faith Christian (14-3)