GRAY DEYOSports Writer

After tonight, only one game separates the Lady Wildcats soccer team from being state champions. They beat an extremely talented Signal Mountain High School team on Wednesday, 3-1.

Tullahoma and Signal Mountain went scoreless in the first half, but in the second half, the Lady Wildcats were able to break through the opposing Lady Eagle defenses and find the back of the net.

With 29:35 seconds shining on the scoreboard at Boyd Buchanan High School in the second half, Tullahoma senior Catelynn Ballard, on the left side of the field, well over 15 yards behind the penalty box, let a shot rip that floated towards the atmosphere. This ball floated and fluttered, and even though there was no pace behind it, the shot quickly became goal threatening. The Eagles keeper began to raise her hands as the shot continued to float towards her. She ended up getting a hand on it, but Ballard’s shot still had enough float on it to clear her and get the opening goal for the Lady Wildcats. The Tullahoma senior was swarmed by her teammates as they celebrated a 1-0 lead.

The Lady Wildcats’ second goal of the game came from junior Brindley Duncan. It was an extremely similar shot that Duncan hit yesterday, in the ‘Cats’ 4-1 win against Elizabethton High School. Duncan hit a shot from the left side of the field into the right side of the net to give Tullahoma a 2-0 lead.

Following this goal, Signal had some nice offensive runs, but they did not amount to anything. With 10 minutes left in the match, senior Lexi Chamblee shut down any hope they had for a comeback with a long free-kick goal.  From near midfield, Chamblee unleashed a beautiful ball that carried every defender, bounced once, and went over the outstretched arms of the Eagles’ keeper. This goal from Chamblee secured the final goal for Tullahoma in a 3-1 win.

With the win, Tullahoma will get a day of rest and be back in action Friday for the state final. Their opponent will be Liberty Creek High School. Coming into the state tourney, Liberty had a record of 19-1-2. They won their two state tournament games convincingly, winning their first-round game 2-0 and second round game 4-1.