D-B, Central Hit Road For Region Soccer Semis
by STEVE WILMOTH
TriCitiesSports.com
October 16, 2017
Dobyns-Bennett and Sullivan Central are both on the road tonight for the first round of regional soccer tournament action.
Meanwhile, District 1-AAA champion Science Hill and District 1-AA champion Greeneville be the hosts for their semi-final fixtures.
After losing soundly to the Lady ‘Toppers in two regular season contests, the Lady Indians took Science Hill into a penalty kick round before falling in the District 1-AAA championship. There was no such close call for the Lady Cougars who fell 9-nil to the Lady ‘Devils.
Dobyns-Bennett (11-8) will take on Bearden (13-5-2), a regular foe in the sectional round, but now as part of Region 2 thanks to recent TSSAA reclassification.
The Bulldogs defeated Knox West, 7-0, in the District 2-AAA championship and have tossed four straight clean sheets and allowed just three goals in their last nine games and only 13 goals all season.
The Lady Tribe last faced Bearden in a Class AAA sectional in 2014, earning a 4-3 victory that sent the Lady Indians to their most recent state tournament. They’ve not been back to the sectional round since.
Bearden is led by senior Ashtyn Glover and sophomore Abby Brewer. Glover, a three-time all-district and all-region player who racked up nine goals and 15 assists as a junior. Glover is on the Adidas Preseason All-American Watch.
Brewer netted 14 tallies as a freshman to earn all-district and all-region.
“It will take a solid game from start to finish, without any self-inflicted punishments to get the result,” said Dobyns-Bennett coach Blake Rutherford.
Kick-off from Knoxville is set for 7:00 p.m.
The Lady Cougars (12-5-0) take on high-scoring Seymour (14-3-0) at 6:00 p.m. The Eagles were unbeaten and untied in District 2-AA play and earned a 7-1 result over Northview Academy in the district semi-finals and took the district title 9-0 over Pigeon Forge.
Seymour has tallied 106 goals this season, including 7 or more goals in nine of 17 matches.
“They score early and often,” said Central coach Emily Robinette. “We have to establish a strong defense and the beginning of the game and try to create an offensive attack.”
The District 2-AA runner-up Tigers (7-9-1) travel to Greeneville (13-4-3) while Science Hill (14-3-2) will host Knox West (8-10-1) in the other Class AAA semi-final.
In Class A, Cosby (11-6-1) visits Chuckey-Doak (10-5-1) while Alcoa (13-3-2) hosts University High.
The winners in each class will meet in championship games on Thursday and will both advance to Saturday’s sectional rounds with the region champions hosting and the runners-ups traveling.
The TSSAA State Soccer Tournaments are next week in Murfreesboro.
Tuesday, October 17
Region 1-AAA Soccer Semi-Finals
Knox West (8-10-1) at Science Hill (14-3-2), 7:00 p.m.
Dobyns-Bennett (11-8-0) at Bearden (13-5-2), 7:00 p.m.
Region 1-AA Soccer Semi-Finals
Sullivan Central (12-5-0) at Seymour (14-3-0), 6:00 p.m.
Pigeon Forge (7-9-1) at Greeneville (13-4-3), 5:00 p.m.
Region 1-A Soccer Semi-Finals
Cosby (11-6-1) at Chuckey-Doak (10-5-1), 7:00 p.m.
University High at Alcoa (13-3-2), 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 19
Region 1-AAA, AA, A Soccer Championships
Saturday, October 21
Class AAA, AA, A Soccer Sectionals