Notre Dame Wins District 7A/AA Championship on Penalty Kicks

With all eyes on her, Notre Dame's Courtney Boyd stayed calm and buried the winning penalty kick in the upper right corner of the goal to give the Irish the win 2-1 against Chattanooga Christian on penalty kicks Thursday night at Finley Stadium for the District 7A/AA girls soccer championship.

"We practice penalty kicks every week and I told myself to stay calm and stick with the shot you planned on taking," said Boyd  whose goal gave the Irish their third straight district title. "This is my first ever winning penalty kick."

After a scoreless first half, CCS (9-5-4) took a 1-0 lead on a goal by freshman Olivia Hoffman in the 79th minute.

Hoffman had the ball on the left side, cut to the middle of the Finley Stadium turf and put the ball inside the left post.

"It was a brilliant goal by Olivia," said CCS coach Cal Sneller.

But with less than a minute remaining in regulation, Megan Atkins tied it for Notre Dame a goal on a free kick from 30 yards out on the left side.

"That's why you don't give up and play the match until it over," said a relieved Notre Dame coach Jim Schermerhorn of the match-tying goal.

"It was awesome to score the tying goal," said a smiling Atkins. "It's the best feeling in the world."

The loss snapped CCS' five match win streak. The Chargers last loss prior to Thursday was also to the Irish, 1-0 as Atkins also scored the winner on a free kick.

 "It was a hard fought match and it was a good shot in regulation to tie the match," said coach Sneller. "The loss is hard to take as our goal keeper (Avery Boulware) was in good position to stop the shot, but (Megan) made it. Those things happen."

 Both teams advance to Tuesday's region semifinals. If both teams win Tuesday they would meet next Thursday at Notre Dame (7-5-4) for the region title.

Tuesday Region Semis: Notre Dame (7-5-4) hosts Merrol Hyde (10-7-2) and CCS travels to undefeated Murfreesboro Central Magnet (19-0) .. Central Magnet defeated Merrol Hyde, 5-0, Friday to claim the 8 A/AA title ... 

ND-CCS Rivalry: The Irish are 6-0-2 against CCS since losing to the Chargers in the district and region finals in 2011.

 Notre Dame 2, Chattanooga Christian 1

CCS 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 --1

ND - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - - 1

Penalty Kicks: ND, 4-3

ND  (7-5-4)  CCS  (9-5-4)

Stats:

Goals: 1-1

PKs: ND, 4-3

Shots: ND, 12-9

Goal Saves: Taylor Green (ND) 5  Avery Boulware (CCS) 3

Corner Kicks: ND, 6-4

Free Kicks: ND, 8-5

Fouls CCS, 7-5

Hand Balls: CCS, 1  ND, 0

Yellow Cards: Hannah Henry (CCS)

Red Cards: None

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net