'You saw the resilience.' Covenant Christian overcomes early deficit, wins 2A soccer title

INDIANAPOLIS – Covenant Christian senior Ephraim Brock headed the ball down in the goal area before he spun around and found contact. He struck the ball out of mid-air for the go-ahead goal with nine minutes left in Saturday's Class 2A state title game vs. Hammond Bishop Noll.Brock strode to the sideline, faced to the Covenant Christian fans that made the trip. He leaped in the air then landed back on the ground.His chest was puffed out, both arms flared wide. He channeled his favorite player Jude Bellingham with the celebration.He was basking in the clutch moment, reminiscent of the goal he scored during team’s first state championship win in Class 1A in 2024.Saturday was the team’s return to the grand stage, having now transitioned to 2A. Brock was a major returning act. “I’m thinking, ’This is the game winner,’” Brock said on his celebration. “I’ve been here before. I’ve scored before in the state final in 1A. It’s awesome to be here in 2A and scoring. It feels so much better.”Two years after they were crowned kings of 1A and secured their first title in program history, the Covenant Christian Warriors (18-2) claimed a new mantle in Indiana high school boys soccer: 2A champions.Covenant Christian clinched a 2-1 victory over Bishop Noll (17-3-2) at Michael Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium on Saturday.“This is an incredible team,” said Covenant Christian coach Josh Brown. “I can’t say enough about them. The first team ever to be promoted a class and win (a state title) again. It never happened and these boys did it.”Covenant Christian allowed five goals all year entering Saturday - a stat that Bishop Noll dismantled early on. Junior Lino Melero put Bishop Noll on the board five minutes into the match. Covenant Christian’s backline applied pressure, but Melero shot right and over goalkeeper Owen Hitchcock for the opening strike.Facing adversity became second nature for Covenant Christian. They made a habit of weathering first-half struggles and roaring back.About 11 minutes after Bishop Noll’s opening strike, sophomore Noah Blomberg fended off two defenders at the top of opposing box. He danced around before he pulled left and fired it right for his 10th goal of the season.The game was tied at one at the halftime break.“You saw the resilience,” Hitchcock said. “We conceded in the first few minutes, which I have the responsibility for. I should’ve saved it. The boys fought back and bounced back ... We were a second half team the whole season. We were never good at starting off early, but we always could come back in the second half.”Covenant Christian blanked Bishop Noll in the second period. Hitchcock captained the defense, putting his body on the line for state championship glory. He redeemed the early-game blunder and shined the rest of the way.There was no other way to win, especially against a fast-paced Bishop Noll offense that totaled 83 goals and 64 assists entering Saturday. Hitchcock, now a two-time state champion, thwarted off every attempt by Bishop Noll in the crunch time. “He’s just an incredible keeper and he’s a little bit salty about the first goal he allowed but it was a great shot … but he came up huge,” Brown said. “He’s probably the biggest reason why we won that game. He made some huge saves. Came out, defended some 1v1’s. He was just incredible. He’s our captain. He’s one of the best keepers in the state for a reason.”After a foul near the right corner, Mason Stephens whipped the ball near the box. It bounced around before Brock made contact and landed the decisive goal. His strike will be talked about by the Covenant Christian faithful for years to come. He showed up on Saturday, but those that know him best will say he’s been that guy over the last few years.Ephraim Brock puts Covenant Christian in front. His fifth goal of the season. 9:05 left in 2H. pic.twitter.com/yW5zq3eGGa— Marc Ray (@themarcszn) October 31, 2026He has looked up to clutch players -- like Bellingham -- but he has operated with his own killer instinct at the preps level. The Covenant Christian fans marveled at the entire team that outmuscled Bishop Noll. They were in awe at the young man that put them in front late in the state finals.“Ever since sophomore year, he’s been going off: scoring so many goals, keeping us alive,” Hitchcock said. “I mean, the best way I can compare him is 2025 Tyrese Haliburton postseason run. Just getting us to the clutch when we need it.”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: 'You saw the resilience.' Covenant Christian overcomes early deficit, wins 2A soccer title