MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - For the first time in four years, Centre Women's Soccer has won the SAA Tournament Championship after a thrilling 1-0 win over Trinity on Sunday afternoon.
The opening minutes proved a feeling out process as these two excellent teams were looking for any advantage to be had. Trinity had the early looks on goal as Madeline Redmon had to make two stops inside the first 20 minutes. The Colonels offense struggled to find head way in the half as they did not register a shot attempt against the vaunted Tigers back four. Trinity was not finding much more success negotiating against Centre's back line either. The Tigers controlled the ball more in the half than the Colonels did but could not negotiate much of quality as the game went to the half scoreless.
Trinity threatened with a cross just 2 minutes into the second half, but the shot was headed over the top by the Colonel back line before it got to Redmon. The ensuing corner resulted in no threat as Centre held its ground to force a goal kick. The first chance for Centre came in the 52nd minute as a brilliant run up the right resulted in a cross to Zara McCarthy, who put the ball over the crossbar. While the shot was off, it got the momentum going Centre's way. Claire Cavacini found a slim window from the left side of the Trinity box. She was bumped while shooting with the ball floating harmlessly to the Tiger keeper. Just 40 seconds later, Ellery Taylor took possession and let a ball rip from 30 yards out that just missed high and wide to the left.
The pressure continued on the part of Centre and the Colonels were nearly rewarded with the breakthrough in the 60th minute. Claire Mullen took the ball just inside the Centre half and lofted it 40 yards ahead. Zara McCarthy, the tournament's Most Valuable Player, ran it down with a defender on her hip. McCarthy took possession with a dribble to her right, eluding the Trinity keeper at the top of the box, and slid the ball home. Unfortunately, in shaking off the defender, McCarthy was called for a foul, so the goal was disallowed. The MVP would not be denied and laid out a highlight for the ages just 40 seconds later. A long ball from Avery Buser up the right found McCarthy, who danced her way through and around three Trinity defenders and the goalkeeper to drill home her 13th goal of the year, giving Centre the elusive lead.
Trinity made one final push for an equalizer. With just under 5 minutes to play, a cross into the Centre box was headed towards the goal, but Redmon was there to get a finger tip on it, causing the ball to glance off the post and stay out. The ball crawled towards the opposite post, but the Tigers could not get there to put it away as a follow missed just wide. Centre was able to continually clear the ball away and nearly had a second with 3 minutes left. McCarthy took possession on a 1-v-1 with a Trinity defender. As she worked towards the top of the Trinity box, physicality ensued with the Tiger defender going down and McCarthy being whistled for a foul. Centre continued to burn the clock as Trinity never again threatened. The clock hit zeroes and the Centre bench poured onto the field to celebrate another SAA title and an automatic berth back to the NCAA Tournament.
With a goal in each tourney game, Zara McCarthy was the easy choice for MVP honors. She was also named to the All-Tournament Team, along with Claire Cavacini and Ellery Taylor. Madeline Redmon stopped all 4 shots faced for her 4th shutout of the season.
With the win, the Colonels punch their ticket back to the NCAA Tournament and will find out their first round opponent on the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, scheduled for Monday at 11:30am.
All-Tournament Team:
Annie Cimino - Rhodes
Greer Brantley - Sewanee
Kylie Harris - Trinity
Talia Camin - Trinity
Ellery Taylor - Centre
Claire Cavacini - Centre
Zara McCarthy - Centre (MVP)