The Central Lady Bobcats girls’ soccer team is headed to its first state tournament. (Photo by Danny Parker)
Tradition must start somewhere.
And if the Central girls’ soccer program develops into a perennial power in the area, what happened Saturday night might be the genesis of it all.
The Lady Bobcats ousted 2018 Class AA state runner-up Seymour in penalty kicks and won the state sectional, 4-3, to secure their first-ever state tournament berth.
ETSU commitment Ashton Blair, a goalkeeper by trade, booted through the game-winning PK, capping a game of emotional peaks and valleys for the Bobcat faithful.
Game winning PK for @ashton_blair35 Bobcats go to STATE! @5StarPreps pic.twitter.com/REt2hYKrGN
— Coach Collins (@CoachCollinsCHS) October 26, 2019
Seymour was all set to return to Murfreesboro for another try at a state title, but Central’s Lyric Fowler scored with 2 minutes, 12 seconds remaining to force overtime.
Seymour went ahead 2-1 in the second overtime with 6:33 left, and Central still didn’t wilt.
It tied the game some four minutes later and prompted the penalty kick situation.
Central will be joined in the Class AA state tournament field next week by Greeneville, which will be making its fifth consecutive showing.
Greeneville, which won state titles in 2015 and 2016, routed Gibbs on Saturday, 8-0.
Sydney Finchum and Delana Debusk each had hat tricks in the win.
DIVISION II-AA
Catholic 2, Ensworth 1 — The Lady Irish took care of business in penalty kicks in Nashville and advanced to next week’s state semifinals in its first season in Division II-AA.
They’ll be joined there by Briarcrest, GPS and Father Ryan.
The Lady Irish are seeking their first state title since they won back-to-back championships in 2013-14 in Division I, Class A-AA.
CLASS A
FINAL (Class A ⚽️ Sectional): Cosby 5, Cumberland Gap 0.
The Lady Eagles are headed the TSSAA Class A State Tournament. pic.twitter.com/dbkugFROKw
— Dylan Young (@dylan_npt) October 27, 2019
Central wasn’t the only area team making history Saturday night, as the Cosby Lady Eagles notched their first state-tournament berth just days after winning their first region title.
Cosby jumped to a 2-0 lead at half via goals from Macie Mathes and Leia Groat. Cosby wound up beating Cumberland Gap, 5-0.
Alcoa secured its second consecutive state tournament appearance, knocking off host Oneida 2-0.
Alexis Marshall scored both goals, the second of which came in the final two minutes of regulation to clinch the victory.
DIVISION II-A
BGA defeated CAK, 3-2, to advance to the Final Four, netting the go-ahead goal just a couple minutes into the overtime periods.
USJ defeated Grace Christian 1-0 Saturday to keep the Lady Rams from reaching the state semifinals.
CLASS AAA
Maryville 2, Bearden 0 – Reyna Coston and Ella McCallum goals led the Lady Rebels past Bearden (17-4-1). Maryville (17-3-3) will make its second consecutive state tournament appearance and fourth overall in the state quarterfinals on Wednesday in Murfreesboro.
Science Hill 2, Powell 1 — The Lady Hilltoppers denied Powell its first trip to a state tournament with a go-ahead goal near the midpoint of the match.
Autumn Daniels scored Powell’s lone goal.
Maryville Girls Soccer headed back to Class AAA state tournament, 2-0 over Bearden