Notre Dame coach Jim Schermerhorn gladly boasts that his team has a lot of heart.
That was shown Wednesday night in many facets — but none more important than on the scoreboard.
Grace Courter had 13 key saves, and a pair of sophomores hooked up for the game-winning goal in the 107th minute as the third-ranked Lady Irish outlasted top-ranked Christ Presbyterian Academy 2-1 to advance to the Class A/AA state semifinals.
Notre Dame (10-7-3), which hasn’t lost since a 3-1 defeat to Class AAA Henry County on Sept. 19, advances to tonight’s semifinal against fifth-ranked Page — who defeated Dyersburg 6-1 in their quarterfinal — at 7.
Blair Barker sprinted towards the end line, saving a ball that was headed out, and crossed it into Erin Freeman, who beat CPA keeper Meredith Roman for the game-winner.
“I just knew I couldn’t give up on the play,” Barker said. “Coach Schermerhorn always tells us to hit the ball into the box and always follow, so I just did what I could do and hope we could get to it.”
Said Freeman: “I really didn’t think Blair was going to get to it.
“This win is so huge for us. We had a slow start to the season and a lot of us got down because our record wasn’t good, but the most important thing is that we’re still playing today.”
Gaby Gurrola put the Lady Irish on top in the 52nd minute on a nice header off a Michelle Spangler free kick, but the Lady Lions (18-4-2) responded 17 minutes later by pushing swarms of players into the attack. Maeson Wampler finally evened things when she bounced in a rebound on a Amy Maksimowicz corner kick.
“I just told the girls to keep battling and something could happen,” Schermerhorn said. “Whether it’s off a free kick or a corner, I just wanted them to keep fighting.
“If that doesn’t show the heart of this team, I don’t know what does. We just kept going — with a whole lot of help from Grace.”
CPA’s attack kept Notre Dame on their heels, but Courter was there with a flurry of nice saves — including a diving save of an Alyssa Curtis attempt in the first half, and about seven important saves from long-distance shots that skipped on the wet ground from an endless rain.
“I just wanted to do what I could to get this win for the team,” the junior said, noting she was “nervous” before the game. “I think if we come out and play hard — it might not get any easier — we’ll come out on top.”
Said CPA coach Brandy Gagliano: “I couldn’t be more proud of my girls. We fought for 107 minutes and most of our girls didn’t come out.
“I thought we had the better of the game and the better of the chances, but that’s how it goes.”
Class A/AA State Quarterfinals
NOTRE DAME 2, CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN ACADEMY 1
Halftime score: 0-0. Goals: Gaby Gurrola, Erin Freeman (ND); Maeson Wampler (CPA). Assists: Michelle Spangler, Blair Barker (ND). Shots: CPA, 21-11. Saves: Grace Courter 13 (ND); Meredith Roman 6 (CPA). Records: Notre Dame 10-7-3; CPA 17-5-3.