ATHENS, Tenn. – There were two goalkeeper plays that ultimately decided the District 5-AAA soccer championship game Thursday between Ooltewah and McMinn County.
McMinn keeper Conar Roberts was called for a foul inside the box going up to save a throw-in attempt, leading to a penalty kick. Ooltewah’s Callum Wishart made the shot and it was the difference in a 1-0 win for the Owls, wrapping up their first District 5-AAA championship.
Ooltewah (9-5-1) will host the loser between Cookeville and Coffee County in the District 6 final, while the Cherokees (8-3-4) will travel to face the champion.
The Owls’ victory Thursday was a far cry from the regular-season meeting, which the Cherokees won 4-1.
“They beat us to a pulp that game,” Ooltewah coach Rick Adolph said. “We’re a completely different team now. It’s taken some time to work together, but I think we’re getting pretty close.”