Despite chaos all around him Saturday afternoon, Alex Darras remained calm.
A Notre Dame team fighting for advancement in the state playoffs was nothing new for the 6-foot-2 defender, who also plays quarterback on the football team and will be continuing his career in that sport at Furman University.
Darras did his part. The Irish defenders as a whole did their part in shutting down a potent Boyd-Buchanan attack, and Michael Quatrano did the rest.
Quatrano scored both goals as the sixth-ranked Irish defeated the fourth-ranked Buccaneers 2-0 to advance to their first Class A/AA state tournament since 2013.
“We played well and we did take advantage of our opportunities,” Notre Dame coach Jim Schermerhorn said. “Boyd is a good team, and they worked hard and played hard in this game. We knew that coming in, that it would be a tough game to play at their place. I thought it went pretty well; I’m not unhappy about anything we did.
“Overall, we played a pretty good game against a tough opponent.”
Notre Dame (12-5-4) will find out its opponent today when the state draws are released. The tournament starts Tuesday at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro.
It was the first time the Bucs (17-1-1) had been shut out all season.
“We did a good job of absorbing everything they put at us,” Darras said. “The defense held strong. We kept our shape pretty well and did a good job of clearing the lines when they got in. Coach did a good job of preparing us, telling us what they were going to do if they go down – how they were going to put pressure on us with the long throw-ins and playing balls over the top.
“We did a good job of being prepared.”
Quatrano scored in each half, netting a penalty kick after being fouled in the box in the eighth minute, then adding his 25th goal of the season in the 79th minute on a free kick.
The Bucs pressured the Notre Dame defense throughout, getting more opportunities than their counterparts.
A shot glanced off the crossbar. Another off the side post. A header by David Ingram sailed over the cross, as did one by Kade Owens.
“It’s disappointing when we create that many opportunities to not put one in,” Boyd-Buchanan coach Dustin Walker said. “Our guys did everything to earn it, to deserve it. Sometimes that’s sports, though.”
Pressure came to a head in the second half. After an offside call, high-scoring Boyd-Buchanan forward Will Boyanton charged at Notre Dame goalkeeper James Teal, who, after retrieving the ball, stuck his leg up and appeared to strike Boyanton in the face with his knee.
After a lengthy discussion, the officials showed Teal a yellow card. He was allowed to return a couple of minutes later.
“My goalkeeper has a right to protect himself on a 50-50 ball,” Schermerhorn said. “He shouldn’t have got carded.”
Quatrano then put the game away with a rocket shot off his right foot.
The Bucs will lose seven seniors off their third consecutive state sectional team.
“They’re the huge reason we’re here,” Walker said. “Their leadership is amazing. I feel like we deserve to be moving on, but that’s not sports. Congrats to Notre Dame; best of luck to them.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.