CCS's Olivia Hoffman tries to get past a CPA defender.
photo by Greg Davick
MURFREESBORO - With the penalty kicks at 2-2, Chattanooga Christian Junior Kyra Duble lined up for her penalty kick attempt and told herself, “I better make this one.”
Remembering she missed a PK in last year’s state semis loss to eventual state champ Knox. Catholic, Duble put this year’s shot past senior Cate Collins Smith of Christ Presbyterian for a 3-2 lead and what proved to be the match-winning goal in the TSSAA A-AA girls' soccer state quarterfinal here at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex.
After Duble’s made shot, CCS goalie Kate Dirkse then stopped CPA’s fourth attempt followed by a missed shot by the last CPA player who kicked the ball wide left as the CCS players ran to Dirkse to start the post-match celebration.
With the victory, CCS advances to Friday’s semifinal match (5:30 p.m.
EST) with Christian Academy of Knoxville a 9-2 winner against Lexington. Greeneville (who beat Notre Dame 6-0 earlier today) faces Page in the other semifinal match. The state final is Saturday at noon EST.
Playing 120 minutes of scoreless soccer, the two teams went to PKs.
In a planned move, CCS head coach Cal Sneller moved freshman Kate Dirkse in goal for the PKs replacing starting goalie freshman Lucy Sandoff who had played all 120 minutes in the nets recording nine saves.
“Both goalies are very good, but Kate is intimidating and as the point guard on the basketball team she is very quick with good hands,” said Sneller who noted the switch of goalies was planned before the match.
“I didn’t really think of a strategy once I was in goal, but just to react to the shots and it worked,” said Dirkse with a smile.
In a contest of two evenly matched teams, CPA led in shots, 14-12, and corner kicks, 9-0.
“Our players in the back did a phenominal job defensively and Lucy made some great stops, but we gave them way too many corner kick opportunities,” Sneller stated.
Made PKs: CCS’ Addie Henry and Leah Hoffman converted on their PK attempts prior to Duble's shot. CPA goals were by Molly Thorne and Madeline Littleton.
Dirkse Winners: While Kate Dirkse was in goal for CCS during PKs and made two stops, her dad, Chad Dirkse the president of CCS, was notified earlier today that he has been selected as the TSSAA A.F. Bridges School System Administrator of the Year for District 3.
CCS 0, CPA 0
CCS wins on PKs 3-2
CPA 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0
CCS 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0
CCS: PKs, 3-2
contact B.B, Branton at william.branton@comcast.net