CCS's Hannah Henry pushes the ball forward on offense.
photo by Greg Davick
While senior Hannah Henry closes one chapter of her soccer career this week at the TSSAA state soccer tournament for Chattanooga Christian, she will begin writing a new chapter next fall as she has committed to play college soccer for Carson-Newman College.
A four-year starter for the Cal Sneller-coached Chargers, Henry knows this is her last chance for a soccer state title, but wants to stay focused on Wednesday’s state quarterfinal match with Hume-Fogg (16-3-0) at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex at 5:30 p.m.
(EDT) at Field #5.
Chattanooga Notre Dame faces Spring Hill at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) on Field #3 in another quarterfinal match, while semifinals are Thursday and the state championship is Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (EDT).
“I am excited about playing college soccer for Carson-Newman next year and it’s great CCS has advanced to the state all four years I have been on the team, but my focus needs to be on Wednesday’s match with a strong Hume Fogg team,” said Henry.
The CCS-Hume Fogg match up could be described as the impenetrable object and the irresistible force as H-F has won 14 straight since mid-September, including 12 shutouts and has allowed only one goal in those 14 wins.
Henry leads the Chargers in scoring with 22 goals, plus five assists, while the Blue and Gold can also look to Sara Farlett (9 goals, 5 assists) and Olivia Hoffman (8 goals, 5 assists) as scoring weapons.
“Hannah has been a starter and a key contributor on our team for four years,” said coach Sneller who is 292-118-65 in 24 seasons at CCS with a state title in 1997. “Hannah has always been willing to pull the trigger and her shot has just gotten harder and more accurate over the years. She is a team player, willing to play where ever the team needs her.”
Looking for Another State Title: Henry, 18, has a state championship ring in tennis and would love to help her teammates be measured later this week for a state soccer ring as well.
The Blue and Gold Chargers are 46-24-14 the last four years with Henry in the lineup and reached the state semis in 2011 and 2012 and the state quarters the past two seasons.
The three-sport star – soccer (4), basketball (3) and tennis (4) – is in line to end her prep career in the spring with an impressive 13 varsity letters as she will add one more letter in hoops and tennis.
The fifth of six children, Henry enjoys soccer the best, but feels tennis is her best sport.
“It’s great to work together with teammates for a win in soccer and basketball, but in tennis it’s just you and your opponent and your decisions determine the outcome win or lose,” stated Henry who has a state doubles championship with her older sister Elllie in 2012 and the aforementioned team crown in 2013.
Henry is considering competing in tennis and soccer at C-N, but her focus this week is all soccer and a run at a state title.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net