Four Sumner County girls’ soccer programs resume their postseason marches on Tuesday evening as region tournaments begin with must-win semifinal matches.
Hendersonville and White House seek returns to the sectional round, while Station Camp is looking to get back to the regional final for the first time since 2010. Merrol Hyde Magnet has an opportunity to reach its first regional final and earn the school’s first-ever spot in the sectionals.
A quick look at each tournament:
Hendersonville High junior Haley Stevens flicks the ball behind her over Station Camp sophomore Katie Koumiss during first-half action. Stevens scored the game-winning penalty kick in the shootout.
Region 5-AAA Tournament
Tuesday’s semifinal matches: Station Camp (18-3) at Clarksville (17-3-1); Rossview (14-4-1) at Hendersonville (15-2-2)
The skinny: Hendersonville and Station Camp went to penalty kicks for the second time in eight to decide the District 9-AAA Tournament championship, with the shootout altering both teams’ postseason courses.
The Lady Commandos get to host District 10-AAA runner-up Rossview, while Station Camp travels to Clarksville to face the Lady Wildcats, District 10-AAA’s champion.
Hendersonville already has a victory over Rossview, a 5-1 victory at home on Sept. 8. Station Camp wants to avenge last season’s Region 5-AAA Tournament semifinal loss to the Lady Wildcats, a 2-0 setback that ended the Lady Bison’s season.
Station Camp also defeated Rossview earlier this season, a 2-0 victory at home on Sept. 1.
Hendersonville suffered its only home loss of the season to Clarksville, a 4-3 defeat on Sept. 29.
Potential sectional opponents: In Region 6’s bracket, Brentwood travels to Cane Ridge, while Franklin hosts McGavock. No District 12-AAA team has reached the sectional round since semifinal winners were allowed to advance beginning in 2003, as Williamson County squads have dominated the region tournament.
L-R Forrest’s Haley Lowe and White House’s Mallory Humphries go up on a corner kick during Monday’s District 9 A-AA Tournament quarterfinals.
Region 5 A-AA Tournament
Tuesday’s semifinal matches: White House Heritage (11-8) at Lipscomb Academy (13-4-1); Hume-Fogg (10-7-2) at White House (15-5)
The skinny: Four different goal scorers tallied in White House’s 7-0 victory over White House Heritage for the District 9 A-AA Tournament title on Thursday. Although junior Madisson Davis has filled the net more than any other Lady Devil, it’s that secondary scoring that has helped White House win the district title for the seventh consecutive season.
White House’s semifinal opponent, Hume-Fogg, has beaten White House Heritage and tied Lipscomb Academy in the regular season, but Lipscomb Academy prevailed by a 3-1 margin in the 10 A-AA final.
Lipscomb Academy defeated White House Heritage in the regular season, but suffered a 6-1 loss to White House on Sept. 16.
Potential sectional opponents: In Region 6’s bracket, Page visits Montgomery Central, while Christ Presbyterian Academy hosts Fairview. CPA has eliminated White House in the sectional round in two of the last three seasons (2013 and 2015).
Merrol Hyde Magnet’s Emily Fenton sends the ball downfield as Gallatin’s Veda Hooge tries to avoid the pass.
Region 4 A-AA Tournament
Tuesday’s semifinal matches: Merrol Hyde Magnet (10-6-1) at Chattanooga Christian (13-6-1); Notre Dame (4-11-2) at Murfreesboro Central Magnet (13-6)
The skinny: Merrol Hyde Magnet took Central Magnet to overtime in Friday’s District 8 A-AA title match before suffering a 4-3 loss. The Lady Hawks will have to travel down Interstate 24 to Chattanooga to keep their postseason hopes alive against a Chattanooga Christian squad that is 13-1-1 in its last 15 matches after five consecutive losses to begin the season.
Central Magnet draws a Notre Dame squad that has largely struggled to score, netting just six goals in the last 11 matches. The Lady Irish have a 1-8-2 record over that span, qualifying for the region tournament with their lone victory, a 3-0 triumph at Signal Mountain.
Both Notre Dame and Chattanooga Christian have been state tournament qualifiers last year in each of the last five seasons, with Chattanooga Christian finishing runner-up last season after a 4-1 loss to Greenville in the championship match.
Potential sectional opponents: Region 3’s bracket has East Ridge visiting Boyd-Buchanan, while Chattanooga School of Arts and Sciences visits Hixson. No Region 3 team has qualified for the state tournament since McMinn Central did so in 2010.
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @CB_SumnerSports, and on Snapchat @cbrooksgne.