Grace Christian Boys Soccer reaches Division II-A state final; Catholic falls in state semifinals

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BY DAVE LINK

MURFREESBORO – Grace Christian Academy soccer stormed into the Division II-A state championship game Wednesday afternoon at the Siegel Soccer Complex.

Senior forward Vitor Robazza scored twice and led the Rams to 4-0 Final Four victory over St. George’s of Collierville.

Grace Christian, the 2025 state champion, advances to Thursday’s 4 p.m. CT title match against Chattanooga Notre Dame, a 1-0 semifinal winner over Webb School-Bell Buckle.

While the Rams were advancing, Catholic got stopped in the Division II-AA Final Four by Briarcrest Christian of Shelby County by a 2-0 score.

Here’s how Grace Christian moved forward and Catholic stalled:

GRACE STRIKES EARLY

Grace Christian (15-1-1) drilled 32 shots at St. George’s goalkeeper Will Love, who made 11 saves.

Rams keeper Pedro Calli had six saves. St. George’s (12-6) took 10 shots.

Robazza, one of six Brazilians on the team, scored in the 2nd minute on a breakaway for the fast start Grace Christian wanted.

“We knew that if we were playing quick, getting the ball out wide, and attacking with speed on the outside, we would have a lot of success,” Grace Christian coach Isaac Brooks said. “Now whether we put it into the back of net is a different story, but that was going to give us our best chance.”

Senior attacking midfielder Vicenzo Barbosa’s goal in the ninth minute made it 2-0. Barbosa, who assisted Robazza’s first goal, is also a Brazilian, but is playing his first season with the Rams.

Senior forward Colby Gouge made it 3-0 in the 22nd minute, scoring when Love came out of goal to play the ball.

At halftime, the Rams had a 3-0 lead and had 14 shots.

“We’ve been working really hard and we just played with all our hearts,” Robazza said.

Robazza scored again in the 55th minute, giving him the team-leading 36 goals this year. He has 25 assists.

“He was really good last year and he took it up just a little bit more,” Brooks said. “We think he’s the best attacking player in the state. That’s up for debate, I’m sure.”

Robazza scored the first goal in last year’s state championship game, a 3-0 victory over Webb School-Bell Buckle.

“Everybody’s excited. We’ve been waiting for this moment,” Robazza said. “I think we’re going to make it a good game tomorrow and let’s go for back to back.”

Brooks said his team will be ready for the state title match, but he didn’t know if the Rams were playing Notre Dame or Webb-Bell Buckle when his game ended.

While Brooks was being interviewed, a fight broke out at the end of the Notre Dame-Webb game.

“There’s two good teams playing over there right now,” Brooks said. “It sounds like it’s super intense. Actually, the game may have just ended.

“Oh, it looks like we’ve got a fight going on. Yeah, they’ve got a fight going on. Yeah, they’re fighting. That might be the game, but they’re getting into a fight, so somebody’s going to get red-carded.”

TSSAA official Joe Blair said at 8:27 p.m. CT that red cards will be issued for the fight, but at that time, the association was reviewing the incident.

 

IRISH LEAVE PROUD

Catholic (9-7-4) fell short of the state final but reached the state tournament for the first time since the 2008 team won the Division I Class A-AA state championship.

Irish coach Josh Martin was a proud coach – especially of his seven seniors.

“I can’t say enough about how these seniors have set a standard for what I think this program is going to be moving forward,” Martin said. “We want to live here in the Final Four. These guys have loved each other. They’ve brought young kids along. They really care about the legacy they’re leaving, and they leave a pretty damn good one.”

Goalkeeper Tate McCarty is one of those seniors.

Briarcrest (16-1-1) had 13 shots in the Final Four match, and McCarty was credited with five saves.

One of his stops came on a penalty kick by Peyton Marbury with the score tied 0-0 in the 34th minute.

“I knew I had to step up at that moment for us,” McCarty said.

McCarty wasn’t able to stop a shot by Marbury in the 37th minute. Marbury’s shot was either touched by a Catholic player for an own goal, or the Briarcrest side said their George Lundy touched it.

“I can’t blame anybody for that (goal),” McCarty said. “I couldn’t tell, they were so close together.”

Briarcrest made it 2-0 in the 71st minute.

Grayson Baldridge took a cross and scored from close range.

“Briarcrest is a great side,” Martin said. “Everybody is good when they get here, and we’re one of those teams. I’ve told people for a couple of weeks, ‘I don’t think we’re a team that can be broken, but you can beat us.’ You take your hat off to Briarcrest. They played a great game. They earned a win, and we’ll be pulling for them to go and do something (Thursday).”

The Irish’s trip to state didn’t end with the loss to Briarcrest. They stayed the night in Murfreesboro.

“These are top-notch players. These are class young men,” Martin said. “We’re gonna cry a bit tonight when we get back and then we’re probably going to play a spades tournament and have a great night of followship.

“Win or lose at the end of this game, the fact that I don’t get to see them tomorrow at practice, that’s the hardest part. It’s been a bit of a climb with Knox Catholic, and I think this is a group I won’t forget.”

McCarty, who missed most of the 2025 season due to injury, won’t forget his senior season.

“I’ve had fun,” he said. “I’m proud of the boys to get here. It’s just unlucky today. I wish we could have another shot to play this team, but we’re fighters. I’ve grown so close to these boys throughout these four years, and I wish them the best moving forward.”

Briarcrest will play Chattanooga McCallie (13-1-3) in the championship match. McCallie beat Christian Brothers 3-2 in their semifinal match.

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