CSLA advances in state soccer; Cleveland falls

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Cleveland's Sloan Bolaños, left, controls the ball as Bearden's Freddy Jiminez defends during their Class AAA match at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex on the first day of the Spring Fling in Murfreesboro on Tuesday. Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Cleveland's Sloan Bolaños, left, controls the ball as Bearden's Freddy Jiminez defends during their Class AAA match at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex on the first day of the Spring Fling in Murfreesboro on Tuesday.

By Gene Henley May 19, 2026 6 min read

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — It was only five years ago that the Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts chose to start welcoming high school students.

Five years later, the soccer program has advanced to the state final four.

The Eagles (17-1-3) needed 20 extra minutes of soccer Tuesday in the Class A state quarterfinals at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex, but a goal by Henry Spann in the second 10-minute overtime pushed them past Merrol Hyde by a 2-1 margin.

The Eagles — who entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed — will face top-seeded Independence Academy Wednesday in the semifinals at 5:30 Eastern.