Emma Higgins and Mckenzie Nadeau scored goals for Notre Dame and Taylor Green recorded a shutout in the nets as the Irish defeated visiting Central Magnet, 2-0, Tuesday night in a D-I A-AA Region 4 semifinal girls soccer match.
Higgins scored an unassisted goal off a deflected shot by teammate Hannah Dearing in the 8th minute for a 1-0 lead.
Missed Opportunity: In the 15th minute, Central Magnet's Shelby Morrison had a break away 1-1 scoring opportunity to tie the match, but her shot was stopped by Irish goalkeeper Taylor Green.
Second Irish Goal: Nadeau and Liz Ciabattone worked a beautiful set play off a corner kick with Nadeau finding the back of the net in the 59th minute for the 2-0 advantage. Nadeau took the corner kick, exchanged passes with Ciabattone and put a hard shot past freshman goalkeeper Abbey Coleman for the score.
"We have worked on that play and Mckenzie and Liz executed it perfectly to give us the 2-0 lead," said Notre Dame coach Jim Schermerhorn who team improves to 8-6-4 and hosts Chattanooga Christian Thursday for the region title.
"It's great to win and move on to the region finals, but our passing tonight was not crisp and our chances to shoot broke down."
Central Magnet coach Ray Bennett noted that physical play was the difference in the match.
"Notre Dame played a very physical game which we are not use to and that caused us to back off some."
Gaining Respect
: "We are in our third year as a varsity program and I think in the past Chattanooga teams have not given us much respect," Bennett stated. "Last year Chattanooga Christian beat us 6-0 in the playoffs and this year we lose 2-0 on the road with a good freshman goalkeeper."
CCS 2 Merrol-Hyde 0 ... CCS traveled to Merrol-Hyde (15-2-2) tonight and came home with a 2-0 win. Hannah Henry scored a goal in each half for CCS.
Region 4 A-A Final: Notre Dame hosts Chattanooga Christian Thursday at 7 p.m. for the region title. The winner hosts a sectional match Saturday, with the loser having to travel.
Close Rivalry: In 2012, Notre Dame beat CCS for the district and region titles ... In 2011, CCS beat the irish for both championships ...
Region 3 A-AA Final: Thursday - Grace hosts Hixson ... Saturday, the winner hosts the ND-CCS loser, while the loser travels to the ND-CCS winner ... Saturday's winner advances to the state quarterfinals.
Notre Dame 2, Central Magnet 0
Central Magnet 0 - 0 -- 0
Notre Dame 1 - 1 -- 2
Records: Notre Dame 8-6-4 Central Magnet 12-8-1
Match Stats
Goals: ND, 2-0 Emma Higgins (unassisted) ... Mckenzie Nadeau (Liz Ciabattone)
Goal Saves: ND GK (Taylor Green - 0) CM GK (Abbey Coleman - 14)
Shots: ND, 29-3
Corners: ND, 3-0
Fouls: ND, 13-4
Hand Balls: 2-2
Off Sides ND, 1-0
Free Kicks: CM, 16-6
Headers Won: ND, 25-23
Yellow Cards: ND (Mckenzie Nadeau)
Halftime: ND, 1-0
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net