Commandos knock off Rossview again
Hendersonville boys soccer team improves to 7-0 against Rossview in regional contests, advances to 5-AAA title match and earns a sectional berth
CLARKSVILLE For stretches this season, The Hendersonville High boys soccer team's intensity has been hard to match.
The Commandos have put together impressive win streaks but would admit that this year has been somewhat inconsistent.
Maybe, that is about to change.
Hendersonville walked into Hawks Stadium and dominated the District 10 champion Rossview Hawks, capturing a 2-0 victory in a Region 5-AAA Tournament semifinal match played on Tuesday night.
Hendersonville (13-7-2) advanced to the region championship for the 20th time in the last 22 years. The Commandos will play at Station Camp – a 3-1 winner over visiting Clarksville in Tuesday’s other 5-AAA semifinal – in Thursday’s championship match and also earned a spot in one of the eight Class AAA sectional matches on Saturday, with the sectional winners advancing to the state tournament.
Hendersonville has won all seven of its regional meetings against Rossview, six of which have come in the semifinal round. The Commandos have won all of those matches via shutout, by a combined margin of 26-0.
On Tuesday, the Commandos made Rossview's goalie work. Brendan Pritts had 11 saves in goal and was constantly under threat late in the first half. Hendersonville finished the match with 16 shots on goal.
Rossview's defense held up for much of the game, allowing only one goal in play after giving up a penalty kick early in the first half.
Hawk defender Alain Brown collided with senior Ethan Salley in the box in what looked like a hard tackle. However, officials ruled a foul on Brown, awarding the penalty kick to Hendersonville. Commando senior Cole Egan stepped up and converted in the 12th minute.
Rossview had a flurry of chances just before halftime, nearly scoring twice, but Hendersonville's defense scrambled to thwart each opportunity.
The Commandos scored again five minutes into the second half when senior Owen Kalada converted on a rebound opportunity.
Hendersonville's defense did the rest as it limited Rossview to just seven shots on goal.
It was the Commandos’ seventh shutout.
The Hawks (7-8-4) finished second in District 10-AAA to Clarksville High during the regular season but knocked off the Wildcats for the district tournament championship last week.
Rossview's season ends in the region semifinal for the second consecutive year.