T-G STAFF REPORT
CHATTANOOGA — After moving fields due to weather conditions rendering the Chattanooga School of Arts and Science field unplayable, the Region 3-A finals were held on the campus of Chattanooga Christian School.
Following a lengthy delay, it was CSAS that was able to edge out a 2-1 victory over Cascade and claim the 3-A title.
The evenly-matched teams battled through the first half to a 0-0 draw, setting up a dramatic final 40 minutes of play.
It was in the 57th minute that CSAS broke the stalemate and notched the first score of the night.
The hosts added an insurance goal in the 75th minute, which proved to be the eventual game-winner.
Cascade made things interesting in the final minutes of regulation on a penalty kick off the toe of Eve Speirs, who cut the CSAS lead in half in the 79th minute.
Even with Speirs’ late goal, the CSAS free kick score in the 75th minute proved to be the deciding factor between the two 3-A titans.
Even with the loss, Cascade still has a shot at redemption, but the path to the Class A state tournament remains a difficult one.
Standing in the Lady Champ’s way is Merrol Hyde, who has ended Cascade’s season in the previous two meetings during the 2018 and 2019 state sectional.
Merrol Hyde enters Saturday’s afternoon matinee fresh off a Region 4-A title where the Lady Hawks edged out a 2-1 win over Smith County.
Merrol Hyde returns in 2021 after falling short in a 1-0 loss in the Class A state title a year ago and enters Saturday’s sectional round with a 14-2-1 overall record.
The match is set for a 2 p.m. start in Hendersonville.
Cascade 0 1 — 1
CSAS 0 2 — 2
Second Half
CSAS — goal, 57th minute.
CSAS — goal, 75th minute.
Cas — Eve Speirs goal, 79th minute.
