CSAS took on Chattanooga Prep in the District 4- A soccer final Thursday night at CSLA’s new turf field. This location, chosen due to extreme weather conditions affecting the fields the night before, gave each team a neutral advantage. Both teams, evenly matched and prepared for the fight that was ahead of them, left everything on the pitch, but only one would come out on top. This time it was CSAS with a message sending scoreline of 3-0.
CSAS has been one of the best teams in the Chattanooga-area this season and have proven their level of play over the last few decades. Chattanooga Prep, one of the newer teams in the area, are still making a name for themselves and proving they deserve to be feared. Each team did just that and came out strong from the whistle.
The first half looked like it would be all CSAS as the Patriots controlled a majority of the possession and had multiple attacking chances and a hand full of corners. Their speed and creativity were dangerous, keeping Chatt Prep on their toes. This woke the Sentinels up and after the first ten minutes of being swarmed by CSAS, they picked up the level of play and became a threat of their own. They found chances on the wings that showed the Patriots what they were capable of. The two battled it out and entered halftime knotted up at 0-0.
The second half continued to be an evenly matched, back and forth fight that still left the fans wondering who would take home the trophy. At this point, things became more and more serious for the players. A lot was on the line and needed to be proved. This led to a few yellow cards involving both teams. The referee was able to get things under control and get back to a competitive game.
CSAS, with nineteen minutes remaining in the half, finally opened the scoring with a goal from Shrish Sharma. The Patriots were awarded a freekick and this would set Sharma up for the first goal of the game. After the first goal there was no stopping CSAS as they would go on to score two more before the final whistle.
The second goal from Will Parris came after his stripping the ball off the defense and easily placing it in the goal. Soon after, CSAS’s defensive midfielder, Will Hetrick would find the net from one of the most beautifully placed freekicks ever taken on a high school lever. The spot was from near the far-right corner. Hetrick placed it right above the keeper’s head into the top left corner to close out the scoring.
Head coach of CSAS, Ryan Jacobs, had plenty to say about the win and the team’s journey this season, “It was the boys. They were pressing a little bit early on. They were trying to do too much and not going back to our roots which is move the ball quickly and getting into space. We had a good halftime talk."
He continued, "We talked about some of the things, and even the boys shared some of the things that they saw out there, and it wasn’t just the coaches. We had a good halftime talk about not trying to do too much and doing it together and putting it on the ground quickly and that’s what you saw. It worked out that way. It’s a good step in the right direction. On Monday we will either have Sweetwater or CSLA, whoever does not come out the victor. So, it’s a good first step, and we might see Chatt Prep again."
Coach Jacobs concluded, "They are a wonderful, young squad. They are young but they are talented, and they are tough. So, it’s a good step in the right direction. I know this is a cliche, but the boys seem to like each other for most part because they have known each other for a long time. I think they are starting to believe a little bit more of what their potential could be if they are doing it together. I have seen some more growth, and you know there are still some bumps in the road because they are teenage boys, but when they do things together, they could go far. That’s going to be the biggest thing.”
Game Summary
Chattanooga Prep 0 0 -- 0
CSAS 0 3 -- 3
Goal Scorers: CSAS- Shrish Sharma, Will Parris, Will Hetrick.
(Contact Alex McElyea at alexmcelyea26@gmail.com)