Fast Lady Chargers top Notre Dame 2-0 in soccer

Chattanooga Christian School's Laura Beth Turner, right, shoots around Notre Dame's Hannah Ingle during Thursday night's match at Notre Dame. CCS scored both goals in the second half of its 2-0 win in Division II-A East competition.
Chattanooga Christian School's Laura Beth Turner, right, shoots around Notre Dame's Hannah Ingle during Thursday night's match at Notre Dame. CCS scored both goals in the second half of its 2-0 win in Division II-A East competition.

For the girls' soccer team at Chattanooga Christian School, a lightning bolt logo fits just right.

The speedy Lady Chargers were held scoreless in the first half Thursday night but ran to a 2-0 win at Division II-A East rival Notre Dame.

CCS started fast, forcing Notre Dame keeper Lauren Teal to make two diving saves and watch another shot rattle the crossbar in the first 10 minutes. But the Lady Irish settled in to cut off passing lanes and slow the Lady Chargers' rhythm.

"Our back line and our keeper played exceptionally well," Notre Dame assistant Reed Farnsley said after filling in for head coach Jim Schermerhorn, who was attending his daughter's wedding rehearsal dinner. "They did a great job of making on-field adjustments on their own better than expected.

"Their speed was exceptional, and we hung in there tight in the first half."

photo Notre Dame's Liza Davini tries to maintain possession of the ball as Chattanooga Christian's Olivia Hoffman applies defensive pressure during Thursday night's game. Hoffman and Laura Beth Turner scored for the visiting Lady Chargers.

Addie Henry fired a laser on a CCS free kick over the defensive wall, but it was right at Teal. Anna Behlau returned fire for Notre Dame moments later. CCS goalkeeper Emily Jipping handled it, and the teams settled for a 0-0 tie at halftime.

"We had some breakaways in the first half, but we had a little too much tunnel vision on some of them," CCS coach Cal Sneller said. "Their goalkeeper did a great job and covers a lot of ground, so you have to dish it and score that way."

CCS opened the second half working its speed down the sidelines and began to find cracks in the stingy Notre Dame defense. Olivia Hoffman and Laura Beth Turner continuously created pressure, and both eventually scored for the Lady Chargers.

On the first goal, Lillie Cate slipped the ball ahead to Hoffman, who raced past defenders and cut the ball inside into the penalty box before blasting a shot into the right corner.

With 19:12 to play, Turner then broke free to catch up to Henry's long pass out of the midfield and was able to slide it into the back of the net.

"Laura Beth was hobbled a little bit, but when she gets going there are few who can catch up with her," Sneller said.

The Lady Irish did not go quietly as most of their shots came in the second half, including a couple that required Jipping to make key saves. Notre Dame's best chance to cut the deficit came late in the half as a corner kick led to a shot from close range, but it was quickly cleared away by CCS.

"We've practiced a lot in the last two weeks in the attacking third," Farnsley said. "It's paying off. I think if we played CCS a few weeks ago, it would have been a different story. What we've practiced really shone through."

Jipping, substituting for two injured goalkeepers, preserved the clean sheet for the Lady Chargers. Teal finished with seven saves for the Lady Irish.

Contact Idris Garcia at sports@timesfreepress.com.

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