MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Maybe the distractions were too much for the Notre Dame boys’ soccer team.
It had been a whirlwind 24 hours for the Fighting Irish at the TSSAA Spring Fling, starting with the closing seconds of their 1-0 victory over Bell Buckle’s Webb School in Wednesday’s Division II-A semifinals. With that victory in hand, there was a scuffle between players from both teams, which ultimately led to a suspension for Notre Dame midfielder Josh Bonk and had initially included first-year head coach Tyler Robertson.
The school and the team were made aware of the TSSAA’s decision Thursday morning, and although Robertson’s initial suspension was lifted on appeal, Bonk’s was upheld, leaving Notre Dame without a senior starter who was pivotal to the team’s run to the state tournament.
The Irish still got off to a good start in Thursday night’s championship game against Knoxville’s Grace Christian Academy, but they weren’t able to withstand the final onslaught and lost 3-1 at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex.
Notre Dame’s Owen Maddox scored off Luke Rosellini’s assist in the 23rd minute for a 1-0 lead, but Grace (16-1-1) tied the match seven minutes later and put two more in the net in the second half.