For the timing of her 18th birthday, Dakota Johnson couldn't have asked for a better present.
The Soddy-Daisy senior scored what proved to be the winning goal on a corner kick as the Lady Trojans won their third consecutive Region 3-AAA soccer championship with a 1-0 victory over Cleveland.
Soddy-Daisy will host Murfreesboro Siegel, a 2-1 loser to Oakland, in a Class AAA sectional game Saturday, while the Lady Raiders (13-8-2) travel to Oakland (12-6-1). The Lady Trojans (20-0-2), ranked fifth overall in the state and third in AAA, edged the Lady Stars (12-7-3) 1-0 earlier in the season.
They couldn't seem to find a way past Cleveland keeper Alison Simpson with all-star forwards Hannah Wyatt and Summer Lanter, so they turned to Johnson, whose left-footed touch shot off a Wyatt header found the corner of the net.
"The ultimate present would have been if that put us in state, but it's still a great feeling," Johnson said. "It's awesome to get this win, especially with us putting in the hard work to make it possible."
Said Soddy-Daisy coach Moises Drumond: "These seniors set goals high, and us getting a win tonight was a credit to them doing what they set forth to accomplish."
Cleveland didn't make it easy on them, though, as the Lady Raiders never backed down despite going into a penalty-kick shootout at Cookeville the night before. They continued to attack and create opportunities, none more dangerous than a shot on goal by Katelyn McChesney off a McKenzie Harris corner kick in the second half.
McChesney's shot was fired right at Soddy-Daisy keeper Haley Myers, as Drumond was heard breathing a sigh of relief.
"I was impressed with Cleveland's ability to maintain their legs and their fitness," Drumond said. "I expected their legs to give out and for us to get them in the second half."
Said Cleveland coach Andy Byrd: "If you look at the game, we have nothing to hang our heads about. This time of year, most games come down to set pieces - and they were able to get one tonight - but I thought we created a great surge towards the end.
"The girls really learned to trust each other out there tonight. No matters what the conditions are, anything can happen, so nobody heads will be down from this game."
At Soddy-Daisy
Region 3-AAA Championship
SODDY-DAISY 1, CLEVELAND 0
Halftime score: 1-0. Goal: Dakota Johnson. Assists: Natalie Smith, Hannah Wyatt. Shots: Soddy-Daisy, 12-5. Saves: Alison Simpson 10 (C); Haley Myers 4 (SD). Records: Soddy-Daisy 20-0-2; Cleveland 13-8-2.