Signal Mountain High School’s girls’ soccer team cruised to a 9-1 victory over Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences in the Division I District 5-A title game on Thursday night.
Junior Camilla Mincey scored the first of the Eagles many goals in the 10’ minute as her right footed curler from the left side found the opposite corner to make it 1-0.
Mincey would find the back of the net again five minutes later. Her solo torching run right down Main Street left her in a one-on-one mind battle with the Patriots keeper. Mincey won that battle as she calmly slotted her shot past the keeper.
Mincey was again involved in Signal Mountain’s third goal as her shot was deflected to the back post where sophomore Kara Wilson tapped it in.
Mincey was too much for the CSAS defense to handle as she glided past a couple more Patriot defenders and again beat the goal keeper one-on-one in the 22’ minute.
CSAS’s high defensive line proved to be a problem all night as the Eagles continues to play through balls in between and over Patriot defenders. Mincey would get on the end of another through ball before clinically scoring her fifth of the evening in the 52’ minute.
The Patriots finally got on the board in the 55’ minute. An in swinging free kick from the right side was served into the box where a scramble of red and white jerseys ensued. The ball appeared to have stopped right on the goal line with opposing players on either side of the line all trying to push the ball to either side of the line – it was like a tug of war match with feet and a ball. The side referee eventually gave the signal for a goal and CSAS got on the board.
CSAS’s celebration did not last long as sophomore Lilly Whitney scored three minutes later to make it 7-1. A minute later Whitney took control of the game cutting through four or five Patriots before her shot was parried away by the goal keeper, but right to the grateful feet of sophomore Maddie Avery who poked it in to make it 8-1.
Mincey would have the last laugh as she was again one-on-one with the Patriots keeper and finished it off to score her sixth, team’s ninth to win the district title.
“We played more direct today and put them under pressure,” Signal Mountain Head Coach Richard Northcutt said. “Our numbers were good, we had two on twos and three on threes a lot and you’re going to get good chances when you have even numbers up top and good players (like Mincey).”
Signal Mountain has been battling injuries all season, but players are starting to get healthy and everything is coming together at the right time for Coach Northcutt.
“It’s been a rough season because we have been down five or six starters, but we are getting people back and that is necessary for us to do well.” Coach Northcutt said.
Signal Mountain will host Huntland in a region semifinal on Tuesday, while CSAS will travel to Cascade for their semifinal match on Tuesday.
Scoring Summary:
SM 10’ Goal by Mincey
SM 15’ Goal by Mincey (unassisted)
SM 16’ Goal by Wilson
SM 22’ Goal by Mincey
SM 25’ Goal by Mincey
SM 52’ Goal by Mincey (unassisted)
CSAS 55’ Goal by Unidentified Scorer
SM 58’ Goal by Whitney
SM 59’ Goal by Avery
SM 73’ Goal by Mincey assisted by Calhoun
Stats
SM 5 4—9 Shots: 29(19) Saves: 1
CSAS 0 1—1 Shots: 5(2) Saves: 9 (not including goal line clearance from defender)