Greeneville celebrates its 2019 Class AA state championship, the program’s third in five years. (Photo: Charles Pulliam).
Maybe Sydney Finchum’s goal for Greeneville in the 29th minute shook the Lady Greene Devils’ opponent Saturday in the Class AA state championship match.
You see, Nolensville wasn’t used to being scored upon. It entered the season finale with three consecutive shutouts — all in meaningful elimination scenarios: state sectionals (9-0), state quarterfinals (4-0) and state semifinals (8-0).
So when Finchum put Greeneville up 1-nil, maybe that sent the message that this wasn’t going to be Nolensville’s day.
Either way, Finchum’s second goal proved the clincher Saturday, and the Lady Greene Devils won their third state championship in the last five years with a 2-1 win over Nolensville.
Greeneville (19-7) finished the season on an eight-game win streak and didn’t lose to a team in its classification all season. Nolensville (14-4-3) sought to be the first, as it was also trying to make good on its second appearance in a state tournament. It tied Greeneville at 1-all on Millie Smith’s goal in the 32nd minute.
But Finchum’s goal in the 51st minute — her fifth of the tournament — gave the Lady Greene Devils the lead they needed to clinch, and keeper Mikayla Weems and the defense kept an rally at bay.
ALCOA CLAIMS RUNNER-UP IN CLASS A
Alcoa claims state runner-up in Class A girls soccer in 2019. (Photo: Charles Pulliam).
The Lady Tornadoes’ soccer season ended with a thud instead of a bang Saturday, claiming state runner-up in the Class A ranks with a 4-1 loss to Signal Mountain.
But what can’t be denied is that the program continues to thrive under coach Shane Corley. He led Alcoa to its first state title in 2017, the program’s first appearance in the tournament. The Lady T’s made the state semifinals a season ago.
And even though it started 2-3 this season and then later lost in the region championship to Cosby, Alcoa still reached the state finals.
But Signal Mountain (16-7) repeated as state champion Saturday, scoring the match’s first four goals and out-shooting Alcoa, 16-4.
Abigail Sullivan, a sophomore, scored the lone goal for Alcoa. And optimism abounds for another Alcoa run next season, as it only graduates three senior starters and returns talented midfielder McKinna Murr.