Red Hawks win second straight region title
JEFF NEAL
Main Street Media
Stewarts Creek soccer players celebrate after defeating Oakland on penalty kicks to win the region championship Thursday night at Oakland. RONNIE YAGLE
Stewarts Creek and Oakland soccer battled to a 0-0 tie in regulation Thursday night, meaning penalty kicks would decide the winner of the region championship.
The Red Hawks walked away with their second straight league title, outdueling the Patriots 3-2 in a thriller at Ray Hughes Stadium.
Stewarts Creek will host Cleveland on Saturday at 7 p.m. in a sectional, and Oakland will travel to Rhea County looking to return to the state for the second time in three years.
Central Magnet lost to Tullahoma 2-0 and will play at Signal Mountain in a quest to go its first state tournament since 2022.
Oakland and Stewarts Creek battled for 100 minutes as Red Hawks’ Graciela Dent and the Patriots’ Avry Wilson would not budge as goalkeepers.
Stewarts Creek won the coin toss and opted to go second on penalty kicks.
Oakland’s Lala Southammavong went first and had to go again because Dent was across the goal line. Her second attempt went over the goal.
“I just try to get in their head and make them think that they might make a mistake,” Dent said of her mindset during penalty kicks.
Taylor Genova of Stewarts Creek also missed as Wilson made the save just as she did in the regular season meeting at Ray Hughes Stadium on Sept 15.
Kenzie Dugan and Gianna Mastrosimone scored for Oakland against Dent, and Abigail Pennington and Addison Fletcher scored against Wilson.
It was sudden death, and Oakland junior Madi McManee missed her chance. It came down to Dent, who stepped up and buried the kick for the thrilling victory.
“As disappointed as we are, we have to forget about this and tomorrow morning forget about it because we have a game that we have to go play and win,” Oakland coach Jeff Boynton said.
Stewarts Creek’s Graciela Dent celebrates scoring the winning penalty kick in sudden death against Oakland in the region championship Thursday night at Oakland. RONNIE YAGLE.
Oakland’s Madi McNamee and Stewarts Creek’s Kinsley Newton move in on the ball during their region championship game at Oakland Thursday night. RONNIE YAGLE
Stewarts Creek’s Addison Fletcher controls the ball against Oakland during their region championship game at Oakland Thursday night. RONNIE YAGLE
Stewarts Creek’s Chloe Surles controls the ball as Oakland’s Gianna Mastrosimone looks on during their region championship game at Oakland Thursday night. RONNIE YAGLE
Stewarts Creek’s Abigail Pennington kicks the ball against Oakland during their region championship game at Oakland Thursday night. RONNIE YAGLE
Oakland’s Norrah Vaovasa controls the ball as Stewarts Creek’s Cameron Kiddoo pursues during their region championship game at Oakland Thursday night. RONNIE YAGLE
Stewarts Creek’s Abigail Pennington and Oakland’s Emmie Bradley battle for control of the ball during their region championship game at Oakland Thursday night. RONNIE YAGLE