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BY DAVE LINK
MURFREESBORO – Don’t stop now.
That’s the mantra of the Hardin Valley Academy soccer team.
The Hawks moved into the Class AAA state championship match with a 1-0 victory over Hendersonville in a semifinal match Thursday night at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex.
HVA (18-3-3) will play for state title Friday at 4 p.m. CT against Bartlett (18-1-2) of Shelby County.
The Hawks lost in the state semifinals two years ago and were beaten in the sectionals last year.
“When we got knocked out in the (semifinals),” HVA senior Ben Brophy said, “it was heartbreaking, and especially last year losing at substate. It’s amazing to be back here, and we’ve just got to bring this home. We have to win this next game and leave it all out there.”
Bartlett defeated Cookeville 1-0 in Thursday’s semifinals.
Bartlett and HVA will be playing their third matches in three days due to Tuesday’s quarterfinals being delayed a day for thunderstorms.
HVA coach Ray Dover will keep pushing his team toward the finish line.
“It’s about recovery, and we’ll try and scout (Bartlett) as much as we can,” Dover said. “At this point, it’s about us, as coaches, handling logistics of making sure that the kids get the right recovery in the next 18, 20 hours, and the senior leadership at this point. We don’t want to come this far to only come this far.”
Bartlett is making its second appearance at state. Two years ago, the Panthers lost to Brentwood 3-2 in the semifinals.
HVA is making its fourth trip to the state tournament. The Hawks won the Class AAA state title in 2011 and lost to Gallatin’s Station Camp 4-0 in the 2023 semifinals.
Hendersonville (15-8-1) was coming off Wednesday’s 1-0 quarterfinal victory against Franklin (16-0-2).
“This team we just beat was on a roll,” Dover said. “They beat undefeated Franklin. They beat Ravenwood 2-0, and they hadn’t given up a goal in I don’t know how long. They’ve just been playing really, really, really well.”
HVA scored the match’s only goal in the 78th minute on a penalty kick by Brophy.
The Hawks also beat Bearden 3-2 in Wednesday’s state quarterfinals on a PK by Brophy in the 67th minute.
While there was some doubt about the penalty called on Bearden, that didn’t appear to be the case Thursday night. A Hendersonville player was called for a late slide tackle at the top of the 6-yard goalie box, resulting in the penalty kick for Hardin Valley.
“That was a legit foul in the box,” Dover said, “and we got the penalty kick and slotted it in. That’s a nervy situation for a shot taker.”
As usual, Brophy, a Maryville College commit, settled his nerves and hit the PK past Hendersonville goalkeeper Paul Singelyn.
“It’s always going to be the most nervous thing in the world,” Brophy said of the PK, “but you’ve just got to focus and not let any distractions happen and just try to place it in one of the corners.
“I saw him leaning one way, so I had to go the opposite way, and tried to place it as left as I could, so I did, and it went in. It’s an amazing feeling when you see that ball go in.”
HVA senior goalkeeper Adam Leonard got the shutout Thursday night with a big assist from his defenders.
“Adam Leonard played fantastic,” Dover said. “Actually the shape of the whole back line was really good. (Defender) Josh Colomac played fantastic. (Defender) Vance Easler played fantastic. Aaron Garcia, the left back, played great, and our right back Asher Stimson played well, so it took all five of those guys, including the rest of the team, to communicate and play well from a defensive standpoint because that team is dangerous.”
Leonard played for Nashville FC as a freshman and earned the starting goalie’s job at HVA as a sophomore.
He was itching to make a deep run at state this season.
“It’s euphoria,” Leonard said. “I’ve been dreaming of this since two years ago when we lost in the semifinals. It’s been a goal of ours, and it’s been unshakeable this year.”
Thursday was a match featuring defense and determination.
Dover said: “I told the guys at halftime: ‘This is all about who wants it more. Fatigue is going to be temporary, but memory and regrets are going to last forever, so figure out how bad you want this to happen.’
“They dug deep and Hendersonville did too. That was a really good team we beat.”
Leonard believes destiny is on the Hawks’ side this year.
“It’s the perfect end to a season,” he said. “We’ve been looking forward to this. This is ours. It’s been written for us. We’re just so excited to get the chance. We’re so blessed with an amazing staff, an amazing team, and an amazing culture.”
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