Chattanooga Prep junior goalkeeper Welfran Ramirez fell to his knees and backward onto the turf as the game clock reached zeroes for the final time Thursday night.
Overcome with joy after posting the biggest clean sheet of his high school soccer career in the Sentinels’ 1-0 win at Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts, Ramirez was first greeted by classmate Erick Hernandez, who helped set up the winning goal in the 72nd minute of the TSSAA Region 3-1A championship game.
Ramirez provided two gigantic saves in the second half as he denied a line-drive shot in the 43rd minute and leaped just high enough to tip another strike over the crossbar in the 70th. He totaled four saves.
“Welfran was very determined for us tonight,” said Chattanooga Prep assistant coach Ivan Lobo, filling in for head coach Carlos De La Cerda as he missed the game due to the birth of his child. “What’s funny is he almost didn’t start because in warmups he injured his finger and we had to tape it up. Amazingly, he was able to fight through that injury and provide us with big moments.”
Hernandez’s cross from the far right sideline with eight minutes to play assisted the lone goal, with freshman Brayden Lopez scoring on an empty net after the ball shot off the keeper on a diving attempt in traffic.