SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The Shelbyville Central Golden Eagles (13-3-2, 9-0-1) advanced past Coffee County (7-5-3, 5-4-1) in the District 9-AAA Semifinals on Tuesday night, 2-0, at the Eagles’ Nest.

In a matchup of last season’s district title game in which Shelbyville also won 2-0, the Golden Eagles dominated possession all night long against the Raiders, wearing down the visitors enough to end the night with a two-goal advantage.

Yaden Niño was the lone Golden Eagle to get his name on the scoresheet. Ben Betzelberger, the starting goalkeeper and formerly the starting kicker for the SCHS football team, picked up the assist, punting Niño in behind the Raiders’ backline to give Shelbyville a 1-0 lead. 

Shelbyville also created an own-goal when Rodrigo Hernández played a through ball into a dangerous area in the box. Instead of the ball finding a Golden Eagle boot, it instead found the foot of a Coffee County defender. Perhaps with a mind of its own, the ball hurtled towards the Raiders’ goal, rustling the back of the net and doubling Shelbyville’s lead to 2-0.

The Golden Eagles didn’t score again, but continued to dominate possession and kept the Raiders from ever truly threatening Betzelberger. Almost every single shot attempt from Coffee County came on long free kicks originating in their own half. 

Shelbyville, after just one day of rest, will host Columbia Central on Thursday night for the District 9-AAA Championship with kick-off set for 7:00 p.m.