MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- McCallie senior Noah Cingilli couldn’t have picked a much better time to score his first goal of the season.
After his team had dominated much of the first half of Wednesday's Division II Class AA state semifinal match against Christian Brothers but without a goal to show for it, Cingilli came through with what proved to be the game-winner.
Seven minutes into the second period, Andre Roberts sent in a shot from about 18 yards out that deflected off the Christian Brothers keeper.
Cingilli was there to follow, and the Blue Tornado defense held the 1-0 lead the rest of the way.
“He just shows up clutch in those moments,” McCallie coach Chris Cushenbery said. “He was very composed, and did a great job finishing.”
The Blue Tornado outshot the Purple Wave 12-5, including several extremely dangerous opportunities in the first 20 minutes, two of which went off the post and another off the crossbar.
After the midway point of the opening period, Christian Brothers made the adjustments it needed to keep the match scoreless heading into the break, before McCallie broke through in the 47th minute.
From there, the Blue Tornado were able to pack in their defense to preserve the win that puts them in Thursday’s state championship game. After falling in the semifinal round the past several seasons, McCallie will be playing in its first state final since 2010 and will be facing Montgomery Bell Academy, the team that has eliminated the Blue Tornado the past two years.
For Cushenbery, who has coached this year’s group of juniors and seniors since they were in middle school, the opportunity to avenge those losses and end the year with a state title is a special one.
“We just want to give our best,” Cushenbery said. “We’re excited about the opportunity to go out and finish the season with a win. I’ve always known this group had the potential to do something special.”
McCallie (14-1-4) will play for the title Thursday at 5 p.m. Eastern at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex.