Dustin Walker admitted he was already thinking ahead to the potential for overtime when the shot happened. As Boyd-Buchanan’s soccer coach began to mentally plan for the approaching extra minutes, Buccaneers’ senior Taylor Shull ended the 0-0 deadlock by scoring in the 77th minute of Saturday night’s Class A/AA state sectional against Notre Dame.
The Bucs made the goal stand in the closing minutes to earn their first return trip to the state tournament in two years. The last time they played in Murfreesboro, Walker was serving an eight-month tour in Iraq with the Marine Corps Reserves.
“I feel so blessed to get to see this group accomplish this,” Walker said. “I had to keep up with them over a satellite phone the last time they made it.”
Off a Ben Beasley throw-in, Shull’s shot just crossed the goal line before it was sent back out onto the field of play. But before the official could signal the goal would count, Boyd-Buchanan’s Drew Zumbrun rifled the ball into the back of the net.
“I didn’t care who got credit for that goal,” said Shull, one of five seniors who were also on the Bucs’ football team that advanced to the 2A state title game. “I thought I had hit it in, but it didn’t matter who they gave it to. All I cared about was that we had a 1-0 lead and we were going to make it stand.
“We’re just as happy for Coach Walker. This has been our goal all season, as seniors to get back to the state tournament, but also for him because he’s more than a coach to us, he’s a friend.”
Another of the Bucs’ seniors, keeper Jake Lockert had seven saves. The win also means a busy week for Boyd-Buchanan supporters after the baseball team also qualified for the Class A tournament.
“That’s the great thing about this team,” Walker said. “None of them care who gets credit for the success, they just want to win together. They’ve played together since they were really little so this is a great way for them to end their career together.”