Murfreesboro, TENN – The Greeneville soccer team advanced to the program’s 5th state title game with a convincing 6-0 shutout of Millington Central. Greeneville (14-9-1) will play South Doyle (19-3-2) who upset the top ranked team in the state, Station Camp, 1-0 as the Cherokees play in the first State Final in just the second state tournament appearance.
Greeneville advanced to the semifinal with a penalty kick shootout against Alcoa that went ten rounds, ending when Tanner Myers made a save in the 10th round and then converted from the spot to send Greeneville through. Millington Central, playing in just their second state tournament, won their quarterfinal match against Chester Co., by rallying from two goals down to win 3-2.
The Greene Devils were a completely different team on Wednesday and despite 100 minutes played on Tuesday with a field temperature of 110 degrees, Greeneville seemed to have more energy from their emotional win against Alcoa. It did not take long for the Greene Devils to find the back of the net. In the 9th minute, Simon Holt found an overlapping Connor Stayton who took a one time shot from the top of the box and buried it near post through traffic to give Greeneville an early lead. Exactly one minute later, Austin Beets played a heel flick to Holt who was making a well timed run behind the defense. Holt gathered the pass at the top of the box and did not miss his opportunity to provide a two goal cushion in the 10th minute. From that point, Greeneville controlled play for the next nine minutes and then mother nature halted the game for severe weather. The game was then delayed for two hours and twenty-nine minutes.
The game resumed at 8pm local time and instead of Millington taking back some control, Greeneville did not allow it. Jude Dyer played a pass to David Fisher who touched it to Holt who banged home his second goal of the game, just one minute and eleven seconds after the restart. Then, just four minutes later, Brody Inscore delivered and outside of the foot pass to Beets who made one touch around a defender to go one on one with Millington’s keeper, Dylan Chapman. Chapman could not stop the All State Striker’s shot and Greeneville jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the 24th minute.
Starting the second half Greeneville quickly attacked down the right side for Dyer but his pass went out of play for a Millington goal kick. On the ensuing kick, Holt intercepted the pass and found Beets, who worked around four defenders to the top of the box and banged home a 25 yard blast for a 5-0 lead just :33 seconds into the second half. Dyer scored his second of the tournament just nine minutes later as Fisher played a direct ball out of the back that allowed Dyer to run by two defenders, cut the ball to the middle of the field and beat Chapman to the near post for the 6-0 lead. The reserves for Greeneville preserved the shutout and Greeneville advance to their 5th championship game in program history and their second consecutive.
Millington, who won their first tournament game on Tuesday, suffered the same fate against Greeneville last season. Greeneville also defeated Millington 6-0 last year. In the game Greeneville outshot the Trojans 22-6, with 12 shots on frame and 4 for Millington. Tanner Myers finished with 3 saves and Landen Creech had 1 for Greeneville. Greeneville is riding a seven match winning streak and in that time Greeneville has outscored their opponents 30-2 with five shutouts.
Greeneville will play South Doyle for the championship game. The last time Greeneville played South Doyle was the 2021 Sectional at South Doyle. Greeneville’s Cade Snelson scored a late goal to give Greeneville the win. The Cherokees are playing in their first soccer state championship game. Game time is scheduled for 12pm eastern, 11am central from the Richard Siegel Soccer Stadium field. Listen to the broadcast from 95.5FM WSMG or Stream from Jewel955.com
