District Soccer
Tonight’s championship matches (all kickoffs at 7):› 5-AAA: McMinn County at Soddy-Daisy (Steve Henry complex)› 7-A/AA: Notre Dame at Chattanooga Christian› 6-A/AA: Hixson vs. East Ridge at Camp Jordan› 5-A/AA: Arts & Sciences at Boyd-Buchanan
While its TSSAA Division I girls’ soccer counterparts are settling district championships, Division II member Baylor will have another day to practice before entering the postseason.
It’s time coach Curtis Blair can put to good use as he continues to explore replacement possibilities for injured team captain Lainee Bohannon, who suffered a broken tibia and fibula in her right leg last week.
“When a teammate goes down it affects everyone, but I’m really proud of the girls,” Blair said. “They have come together to support her like you would a family member. This is part of dealing with adversity.”
Baylor will host Brentwood Academy at 4 p.m. Friday in a D-II first-round match. GPS received a first-round bye.
In D-I district championships tonight, Soddy-Daisy hosts McMinn County, Notre Dame plays at Chattanooga Christian, East Ridge and Hixson meet at Camp Jordan and Arts & Sciences travels to Boyd-Buchanan. Each of those matches is scheduled to start at 7.
Blair has multiple options for replacing Bohannon, who suffered the injury last week and has had surgery. She’ll be in an oversized boot for at least six weeks before enduring a recovery period of three to six months.
Bohannon had just planted her right foot to take a shot when a defender missed the ball and cracked the Baylor junior’s leg.
“I tried to get up, and that just wasn’t working,” she recalled.
But during an interview Tuesday, she shared two sayings posted above her bed: “Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out” and “Pain is temporary. It may last for a minute, an hour, a day or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else with take its place. If I quit, it will last forever.”
While she lay on the field waiting on an ambulance to arrive, her thoughts went from letting her team down to the state tournament and the idea she wouldn’t be able to play.
She’ll be with her teammates, though, if they get to state, with Blair saying Bohannon would at the least “be an assistant, assistant, assistant coach.”
But as for actual play, he added that replacing her would be by committee.
“I don’t think it can be one person,” Blair said. “I think it will take two or three people to do it.”
Once Bohannon got home from the hospital, the first thing she did was call up video of the last 25 minutes of the game in which she was injured. She then texted teammates to let them know how well they did.
“In this day and time where most teenagers are consumed about themselves, she showed what kind of leader and teammate she is,” Blair said. “To put everyone else above yourself is being a great servant-leader.”
Boyd-Buchanan also has had to replace starters, including midfielders Hannah Isenhart and Arianna Schoonover (torn ACLs) and forward Logan Highfield (concussion problems after preseason auto accident).
Emma Rogers and Emily Hauke have picked up the slack offensively – Rogers is now at 30 goals and Hauke 16 – but center-back Lindsey Hunkapiller chipped in with two goals in a match earlier this week.
“She has been our anchor and she helps control our shape and positioning defensively,” coach Todd Ledbetter said. “She covers very well and is technically a good player. Her soccer IQ is very high and she reads positioning so well.”
Hunkapiller, Haleigh Isenhart and Jayla Meadows have provided the Lady Bucs with a stiff defense.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.