CCS senior Tim Stewart delivers the ball down field.
photo by Greg Davick
The Chattanooga Christian soccer team took a decisive 6-0 home sectional win over Columbia Academy on Saturday night earning a place in the final eight class A-AA soccer quarterfinals. Also advancing is McMinn County who defeated Riverdale 5-1 and CSAS who defeated Page 3-1.
CCS took a 2-0 lead into halftime. First half goals were scored by Tim Stewart and Drew Courtney. Josh Best and Courtney assisted on Stewart's goal and Stewart reciprocated to Courtney on the next goal.
The Chargers opened up the second half with three goals in three minutes. Michael Pepper scored on a header after a Jonathan Vermeer corner kick 52 seconds into the second half. Just 45 seconds later, Pepper scored again - this time after a hard cross by Courtney. Less than one minute later, Tim Stewart broke loose for CCS's fifth goal.
The final goal came with 33 minutes left when Frank Shepard played the ball through to Drew Courtney who took it straight to the goal, touching past the Columbia Academy keeper.
CCS will open state tournament play Wednesday afternoon in Memphis.
McMinn County scored three first half goals. Andrew Kimball and Jared Price (2) scored for the statebound Cherokees. Andy Slack had two first half assists and Jared Kimball had one.
In the second half, the Cherokees put two more on the board, one each by Nick Shaver and Jeff Henshaw. Jared Price and Andy Slack had assists.
Bryan Campbell scored for Riverdale in the 68th minute. McMinn County keeper Zach Brown had five saves.
McMinn County will also open state tournament play on Wednesday.
Red Bank lost a 3-2 match to Columbia High School in the other Class AAA game.
Chatttanooga School for the Arts and Science fought for a 3-2 sectional win over Page Academy Friday night eaning their first trip to the Spring Fling.
CSAS was down 1-0 but tied the game at one before the half. Elliot Anderson punched in an Alex Lagraff corner kick for the tieing goal.
A twenty minute rain delay hampared play and soaked the field to begin the second half. CSAS took a 2-1 lead on a shot by Lagraff and led 3-1 when Aaron Christianson scored on an assist by Medearis.
Page scored with eight seconds left on a corner kick.
Trevor Owens and Andy Green led the defensive effort for the Patriots.
"The entire team should be proud of themselves," CSAS coach Molly Hall said. "They traveled a long distance and faced such unusual circumstances (the puddled field) and despite all came out on top."
CSAS will open state soccer action on Wednesday in Memphis.