CCS wins 3-0, earns state berth

After her team's Class A/AA soccer sectional victory over Arts & Sciences, Chattanooga Christian's Rebecca Whiteside looked at her team and proclaimed, "Girls, we're going to state!"

The comment drew a cheer from the rest of the team, who had all contributed in the Lady Chargers' 3-0 victory Saturday, sending them back to the state tournament for the seventh time this decade.

The Lady Chargers shut down the CSAS attack, giving up only one shot on goal and not allowing the Lady Patriots too many opportunities past midfield.

"We faced them in the region semifinals last year and it took some great saves to beat them, so I thought they were going to get some shots off," CCS coach Cal Sneller said. "The defense did so well tonight that they weren't able to turn. I don't know how many times they were able to turn. We said before the game that if we were able to stop them over half the time, we were going to be successful, but I think it was more than that."

CCS's Chauncey Simmons gave her team a 1-0 edge when she headed in a Jennifer Fortmiller corner kick. Later in the half, Fortmiller was at it again, assisting senior Hannah Farlett for a score.

Anna Hoffman added a goal when she dribbled downfield and served a cross that ended up going in.

The Lady Chargers will await the state-tournament brackets to come out but relish the opportunity to play at least one tourney game on their home field, where the first two Class A/AA rounds will be held this week.

"We're going to rest until then," Sneller said. "Tuesday's game was a mess. On Thursday, we threw any number of girls out there to get a break, so for right now it's rest, rest, rest, rest. We'll have a chance to get a few bodies healthy and get ready to go Wednesday.

"We did some things nicely today. We saw openings and used our speed well this game, which I didn't know if we were going to be able to do. We're going to see what the draw brings, but it doesn't matter much. We're going to have to play three good games -- two to get the finals -- and it's not going to be easy anywhere."

Class A/AA state sectional

CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN 3, ARTS & SCIENCES 0

Halftime score: 2-0. Goals: Chauncey Simmons, Hannah Farlett, Anna Hoffman. Assists: Jennifer Fortmiller 2. Shots: CCS, 16-1. Saves: Emily Foster 4 (CSAS); Taylor Thurman 1 (CCS). Records: CCS 14-5-3; CSAS 8-4-2.