Ten minutes into the second half of his team’s 6-0 victory over Boyd-Buchanan in a Class A/AA soccer sectional match Saturday, Notre Dame coach Jim Schermerhorn took forward Kathryn Healy out.
His message to her was clear: Your job here is done.
Healy had two goals and two assists and teammate Sophie Mullin added two goals as the Lady Irish advanced to their sixth consecutive A/AA state tournament with the big victory over the Lady Bucs.
In Englewood, meanwhile, McMinn Central also earned a spot with a 3-1 win over Livingston Academy.
Notre Dame (9-7-3) came into Saturday’s contest with its game plan clear from the opening kick: pressure, pressure, pressure.
“The first half was key,” Schermerhorn said. “We did what we set out to do, to possess the ball and put pressure on the defense.”
They did that, as the attack, led by Healy, Mullin, Lacey Mahoney and Blair Barker remained in the face of the Boyd-Buchanan defense. Healy’s first score came three minutes into the game, as Mahoney danced along the endline and crossed the ball in where the senior put the goal away for a 1-0 edge.
The Irish took a 2-0 lead into halftime after Barker added a goal 16 minutes in. They continued to press in the second half, with Healy and Mullin scoring within the first 10 minutes.
Mullin then added a goal 20 minutes later, and Laura Champion scored in stoppage time.
The Lady Irish, who are 8-1-1 against Class A/AA competition this season, now await their first-round opponent. The state tournament begins Wednesday.
“We’ve had some games this season in which we’ve been real close to our potential, but we’re not there yet,” Schermerhorn said. “I don’t think we’ve hit our peak, but I feel good about where we are now.
“I hope the best is still yet to come.”
Boyd-Buchanan finished its season 12-6-2 and loses three seniors. Goalkeeper and District 5-A/AA most valuable player Anna Beasley played Saturday in goal with an ankle injury she suffered at the end of practice, saving six shots before giving way to Ashley Crawford early in the second half.
“We had such a great run; this team was just so much fun,” Boyd-Buchanan coach Dustin Walker said. “Notre Dame is a tough team, but I couldn’t be more proud of my girls. They’ve gone further than any team in history and raised the bar.”
Class A/AA soccer sectional
NOTRE DAME 6, BOYD-BUCHANAN 0
Halftime score: 2-0. Goals: Kathryn Healy 2, Sophie Mullin 2, Blair Barker, Laura Champion. Assists: Healy 2, Lacey Mahoney, Michelle Spangler, Lexie Pierce. Shots: Notre Dame, 22-2. Saves: Anna Beasley 6, Ashley Crawford 5 (BB); Natalie Graham 2 (ND). Records: Notre Dame 9-7-3; Boyd-Buchanan 12-6-2.