Liz Ciabattone's goal off a corner kick in the 79th minute gave host Notre Dame a 2-1 win against Grace Baptist in girls soccer Saturday night and sent the Irish to the TSSAA A-AA state quarterfinals Wednesday in Murfreesboro.
Notre Dame led 1-0 at halftime after Emma Higgins scored in the 10th minute, but Grace evened the score on Emily Clark's goal in the 51st minute.
Mckenzie Nadeau took the corner kick and put the ball in the box before Ciabattone's goal.
Chattanooga Christian defeated McMinn Central, 5-1 this afternoon and also advances to the A-AA state tournament.
The TSSAA state tournament bracket should be released Sunday.
"We had a lot of chances to score, but couldn't find the back of the net for the winner until Liz put it in," said Notre Dame coach Jim Schermerhorn now in his 12th season.
Best Record: "I am proud of our team to reach the sectional finals and we set a school record for wins as we finished the season 18-4-1," said Grace coach Gretchen Hammel who played on the school's first girls team as an eighth grader in the fall of 1991.
"Credit to Notre Dame as they are faster, bigger and more physical that we are."
Solid Keepers: Both goalkeepers - Taylor Green for Notre Dame and Abby Bosco for Grace - played solid in the nets. Bosco's biggest stop in the second half came in the 63rd minute as she made a good save on Sofia Olenchek from 10 feet in front.
Notre Dame has won six straight after a 4-4 tie with Science Hill Oct. 8 and Green has allowed only three goals in those six wins.
Notre Dame 2, Grace 1
Grace 0 - 1- - 1
Notre Dame 1 - 1-- 2
Records: Notre Dame (11-6-4) Grace (18-4-1)
contact B.B. Branton at William.branton@comcast.net