SPORTS

Bison go the distance … advance to Murfreesboro

Station Camp boys soccer team defeats Franklin in a penalty-kick shootout to clinch first state berth since 2009

Chris Brooks
USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

GALLATIN – Mark Ludwig gingerly walked up to take his penalty kick, and then, he walked away with a chance to play in the Class AAA State Soccer Tournament.

The Station Camp High soccer players run off the bench to celebrate Saturday evening’s 4-3 victory over Franklin, which earned the Bison program its first state-tournament berth since 2009.

The Station Camp High senior netted the match-clinching tally in a penalty-kick shootout as the Bison captured a 4-3 victory over visiting Franklin in one of eight Class AAA sectional matches played on Saturday evening.

“I said to Mark, ‘you’re not shooting it, right?’ ... and Mark said, ‘no, I want it,’” Station Camp head coach Thomas Morand said. “He’s so hurt, and he’s our fifth shooter, our anchor. I figured with his ankle (injury), (that) he didn’t want to try it.”

Station Camp won the shootout by a 5-3 margin as junior Chase Freeman, senior Bailey Grissom, senior Tanner Carter, sophomore Atakelti Gebregzabher and Ludwig all converted.

Station Camp High junior Noah Ashley battles Franklin senior Will Campbell for possession during first-half action.

“We’re all beat up, and we’re playing a lot of guys very sparingly to try and patch the team together,” Ludwig said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the guys for keeping their heads in the game and staying composed.”

Senior goalkeeper Eli McCormick stopped Franklin junior Addison Norris’ shot ... with his face. The ball ricocheted off the left post and stayed out of the goal, putting the Bison in position to win the match after going the maximum 110-minute distance without a winner.

“It just hit my face ... right under my left eye and popped out,” McCormick said.

Station Camp High junior goalkeeper Eli McCormick makes a save during first-half action.

Ludwig did not start the match, coming off the bench midway through the first half as he is still nursing the injury suffered in the District 9-AAA Tournament.

Carter opened the scoring by converting on a penalty kick with 2:30 left in the first half after Franklin was whistled for a handball in the box.

Station Camp High senior Tanner Carter steps into a shot during first-half action. Carter scored a goal in regulation and also converted the penalty-kick shootout as the Bison claimed a 4-3 victory over visiting Franklin in Saturday evening’s Class AAA sectional.

Freeman put the Bison up by two goals with a diagonal shot into the lower, left corner after speeding into the box in the 43rd minute.

The Rebels (11-3-3) battled back with a pair of goals from Chance Cuthbert over a span of 3:03 to tie the match, but junior Noah Ashley put Station Camp back ahead just 1:05 later, scoring off of a rebound following Carter's header.

Franklin senior Will Campbell tied the match with 6:35 to play.

“We lost our discipline (late in the second half),” Morand said. “You can’t give a good team like (Franklin) chances.”

Station Camp High sophomore Stone Bresnahan gains possession during first-half action.

The Bison will play in the state quarterfinals on Tuesday afternoon at 4;30 against Cookeville (17-4-2) at Murfreesboro’s Richard Siegel Soccer Complex. The two teams played at Station Camp on April 4, with the Bison claiming a 3-0 win.

Station Camp’s last state appearance came in 2009, when the Bison advanced to the Class A-AA semifinals before suffering a 3-0 loss to Christian Academy of Knoxville.

Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

Class AAA sectional results

Dobyns-Bennett 3, Oak Ridge 1

Bearden 2, Sevier County 0

Cookeville 2, Blackman 0

Oakland 3, Cleveland 1

Station Camp 4, Franklin 3 (5-3 in penalty-kick shootout)

Ravenwood 2, Hendersonville 1

Collierville 1, Bartlett 0

Houston 11, Cordova 0