Sara Hill stood her ground as Christ Presbyterian Academy star attacker Caroline Betts broke free for a one-on-one opportunity with less than a minute left to play in a TSSAA Division II-AA state semifinal.
Baylor’s freshman goalkeeper made the biggest play of her young career as Hill dove fully outstretched to her left to deny the sizzling shot in the closing moments of the Lady Red Raiders’ 2-1 comeback victory Thursday at Chattanooga Christian School.
“To come up big and make that save in such a big moment means everything,” Hill said moments after the Lady Red Raiders chanted her name in their postgame celebration. “That was the one save we really needed to close it out. It was a hard shot and a save I will always remember.”
Hill also made a diving stop on a CPA breakaway in the 56th minute, holding the Nashville program scoreless in the second half after being called off the bench by Baylor coach Curtis Blair with the team down 1-0 at the break.
Baylor (16-1-2) will shoot for the school’s 10th state title in girls’ soccer – and first since 2017 – when the Lady Red Raiders take on Harpeth Hall at 6:30 p.m. Friday at CHI Memorial Stadium in East Ridge, the home of USL League One’s Chattanooga Red Wolves. Harpeth Hall (12-0-3) beat GPS earlier Thursday at CCS, ending the Bruisers’ season and preventing an all-Chattanooga final.