Amidst the muck and mud of the rain-drenched Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro, two area teams kept their footing well enough Thursday to be able to secure spots in Saturday’s state championships.
Two programs that have been there before.
Alcoa (14-5) will play defending-champion Signal Mountain (13-9) at 5 p.m. Eastern on Saturday for the Class A state title. Alcoa beat Signal Mountain for the 2017 Class A state title.
Meanwhile, Greeneville (18-7) will play for its third state championship in five years at 2:30 p.m. Eastern on Saturday when it takes on Nolensville (14-3-3).
Nolensville made its first state-tournament appearance in 2018 but Saturday will be its first finals appearance. It, like Greeneville, has cruised past its opponents this week, winning its first two matches by 4-0 and 8-0 scores.
Greeneville won 11-2 on Wednesday and 2-0 Thursday. Macy Vermillion gave Greeneville a 1-0 lead Thursday in the second half against Murfreesboro Central (17-3-3) with a penalty kick score. Delana Debusk, who had four goals Wednesday, added a cleanup score to clinch the victory.
In Class A, Alcoa survived a 1-0 contest Wednesday and then responded with a more convincing victory, 3-0, on Thursday. Alcoa got two goals from Jada Johnson and one from Rebecca Carolan to oust Adamsville (13-3-1) in the semifinals.
In other area matchups:
Catholic fell to Briarcrest, 6-0, in the Division II-AA state semifinals. The Lady Irish finish the season 12-8.
Cosby, the feel-good soccer story of the area this season, lost to Signal Mountain, 5-0 in the Class A bracket.
Maryville (18-4-3) had its season conclude with a 6-0 loss to Brentwood (16-0) via a 6-0 count in the Class AAA semifinals.