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SEMIFINAL POWER

Lady Champs throttle Marion Co. in 3-A semis

By CHRIS SIERS ~ sports@t-g.com
Posted 10/20/21

During the District 6-A finals last week against Community, Cascade coach Wendy Williams wanted a fast start from her team.While Cascade endured a slow start against the Viqueens, the Lady Champs …

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SEMIFINAL POWER

Lady Champs throttle Marion Co. in 3-A semis

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During the District 6-A finals last week against Community, Cascade coach Wendy Williams wanted a fast start from her team.
While Cascade endured a slow start against the Viqueens, the Lady Champs shot out of the gates during Tuesday night’s Region 3-A semifinal meeting against Marion County and coasted to the 10-1 win against the Lady Warriors to extend their season by at least two more matches.
“This is the type of play we’re hoping to see out of our girls with lots of intentional passes and shots on goal,” Williams said.
For the first 70 seconds of the match, Marion County held possession and kept the attack on the Lady Champion end of the field.
That didn’t last, as Abby Harris found Savannah Soto on a cross for the first score of the game.
Harris notched her second score in the 10th minute on an assist from Caroline Stone.
Eve Speirs accounted for the next two goals, scoring an unassisted goal in the 17th minute and two minutes later, scoring on a free kick from 25 yards out to bump the Lady Champion advantage to 4-0 in the 19th minute.
Marion County avoided the shutout on a breakaway goal down the right flank in the 26th minute, cutting the Cascade score to 4-1.
And for the next several minutes, Cascade simply couldn’t break through the Lady Warrior defense and was held in check.
Angelina Rodriguez helped Cascade end the half on a high note, however, with a score off an assist by Speirs in the 34th minute to give Cascade the 5-1 lead at the half.
Cascade continued to pepper the Lady Warrior goal with shots throughout the second half and piled up five more scores before the game was called due to the nine-score lead.
Stone finally found a goal of her own in the 44th minute and Harris tacked on a seventh score nine minutes later.
Morgan Housch got in on the scoring mix for the eighth Lady Champion goal in the 61st minute before Soto capped her hat trick in the 63rd minute, giving Cascade the 9-1 lead.
Cascade finished the game in the 67th minute with the 10th score off the toe of Audrey Perry.
In total, seven different Lady Champions found the back of the net against Marion County and that depth could be key if Cascade is able to orchestrate a deep postseason run.
“I feel like we have such a deep bench that we’re able to switch them out and feel like we don’t see a drop off at any position,” Williams said.
The win not only advances Cascade to the Region 3-A finals, but guarantees a spot in the upcoming state sectional round with a trip to the Class A state tournament on the line.
While it would be easy to get lost in all the excitement, Williams said the team is focused on one game at a time, but keeping an eye on the overall prize.
“We’re trying to take it one game at a time and focus on the region and then moving on, but it’s always there. We think about it. We put it out there as our “eye on the prize” kind of thing,” Williams said.
Cascade will travel to Chattanooga School of Arts and Sciences, who defeated Community, 3-0, in the other Region 3-A semifinal.
Even with traveling on the road for the region finals, Williams says her squad is riding high with confidence and excitement that matches the best teams in the state.
“We’re very excited. They’re pumped. This is a great opportunity for these girls. They’ve come together so well this season and are playing well as a team. They’re coming into their own and this is their chance to prove what they can do,” she said.
Cascade will travel to CSAS for the 7 p.m. (EST) start on Thursday.
Thursday night’s winner will host the upcoming state sectional round, which will be held on Saturday.  

Marion Co. 1 0 —   1
Cascade 5 5 — 10

First Half
C — Savannah Soto goal, Abby Harris assist, (2nd minute)
C — Soto goal, Caroline Stone assist, (10th minute).
C — Eve Speirs goal, (17th minute).
C — Speirs goal, (19th minute).
M — goal, (26th minute).
C — Angelina Rodriguez goal, Speirs assist, (34th minute).

Second Half
C — Stone goal, (44th minute).
C — Harris goal, (53rd minute).
C — Morgan Housch goal, (61st minute).
C — Soto goal, (63rd minute).
C — Audrey Perry goal, (67th minute).