Clarksville, TN – The Clarksville High Lady Wildcats came into the Region 5-AAA championship game Wednesday night with seven straight shutouts. The last team to score against them was the Hendersonville Lady Commandos who were now their opponents in the regional championship game.
The Lady Commandos scored, keeping the Lady Wildcats from their eighth shutout. However, the lone goal was not enough to stop the Lady Wildcats from becoming the 2014 Region 5-AAA Champions. The Lady Wildcats defeated the Lady Commandos 4-1 to win the championship game.
This is the Lady Wildcats third season in a row as both the District and Regional Champions. In 2012, they also won a sectional game and advanced to state competition.Already motivated to win the game and have an opportunity to get back to state, the Lady Wildcats got some extra motivation when their junior goalkeeper, Melia Correa went down after a collision in the fifth minute and left the game.
“I was so proud of the girls,“ Lady Wildcats head coach Jeff Jordan said. “As far as the way the team responded to the keeper going down. I thought they were fierce.”
That fierceness drove the Lady Wildcats to outshoot the Lady Commandos 14-to-1. The Lady Wildcats used excellent ball movement to dominate the edges and generate constant attacks.
“I thought we played a wonderful style of soccer tonight,“ coach Jordan said. “Their style was to kick it long and hope that their big, strong girls could push through. Ours was 100 percent team ball.”
Salera Jordan was a key piece in the Lady Wildcat’s “team ball” approach to the game. Jordan weaved through Lady Commando defenders and dropped dimes like an NBA point guard. She made the assist on all four of the Lady Wildcat’s goals.
“They had a girl on Salera the whole night and still she managed to do that,” coach Jordan said.
The Lady Wildcats scored their first three goals in a three minute span of the first half. First, Jordan back tapped a pass to Gybson Roth who put the ball in the net in the 17th minute. One minute later, Jordan made a cross from the sideline to Ella Baggett who then launched a bullet pass the Lady Commandos goalkeeper. In the 19th minute Jordan found Baggett again with the same play for the same result.
Roth scored again in the 55th minute for the Lady Wildcats final goal.
“Gybson Roth, a sophomore, she stepped it up. She stepped it up last time and then again tonight. She is playing at a higher level,“ coach Jordan said. “That is what I ask for them all. To go to a higher level. I thought they really did. I thought, for the most part, our whole team played like that.”
Five different Lady Wildcats made shot attempts. Jordan attempted three shots in addition to her four assists. Baggett attempted seven shots, three on goal.
Elizabeth Burns made the Lady Commandos only goal in the last two minutes of the game.
“Hendersonville brought a different attack, had a plan and I thought our girls responded. Our defensive effort was so wonderful,” coach Jordan said.
Both teams will advance to play in sectional matches. As the regional champions, the Lady Wildcats will host their sectional match Saturday against either Ravenwood or Franklin.
Box Score
1 | 2 | Final | |
Clarksville High Lady Wildcats | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Hendersonville Lady Commandos | 0 | 1 | 1 |