The Cascade Lady Champions won their third game in five days at home on Saturday afternoon against the Cheatham County Central Cubs, 1-0, to punch their ticket to the State Tournament for the second year in a row thanks to a second-half goal from freshman Sophia Mastrosimone. 

“It is very exciting to be going back to the state tournament this year,” Cascade Head Coach Wendy Williams said postgame. “It was not on our radar at the beginning of the year, but we are strategic from the beginning of practice in the summer and set high standards to try to give the players the foundation to build upon throughout the season.”

Wendy Williams (pictured) has led Cascade to the last two State Tournaments.

“As for our freshmen, we have been so impressed by their level of discipline and grit. It is a big transition from middle to high school and they have really stepped up to be a major factor for us this year,” she continued.

Four of those freshmen have consistently been in the Starting XI this season: Sophia Mastrosimone, Olivia Winnett, Lexi Comstock, and Kaylee Martin. They have all been key contributors to getting the Lady Champs back to the state tournament yet again this season after the program finally broke through and qualified for the competition for the first time in its history last season.

As Cascade fans have become accustomed to the last few weeks throughout this postseason run, the hosts’ ended the first half with the vast majority of possession, but didn’t have many clear-cut opportunities and chances on goal to speak of in the first 40 minutes. 

Despite this, the Lady Champions finished with 31 total shots as a team, but many of them ended up off-target. Comstock finished with seven shot attempts, Winnett finished with six, Martin with four, and Sophie Ray with four as well. Ellie Chapa and Kelsey Shatley had three shot attempts apiece while Mastrosimone only took two. Of course, the in-form Martin provided an assist for Mastrosimone’s goal. 

Lexi Comstock (8) finished with a team-high 7 shots on Saturday

Things began to pick up in the second half with both teams starting to feel the pressure of a state tournament berth on the line, and it was actually Cheatham County with the first clear-cut chance to break the deadlock. However, senior GK, Irais Rojas came up with the big-time one-on-one save to preserve the clean sheet. 

In the 57th minute, perhaps inspired or jolted to life by Rojas’ big save, the Lady Champions finally broke through the tough Cheatham County backline. A delectable ball in from Martin found the foot of Mastrosimone in the box, and Mastrosimone was able to poke it home into the back of the net for her first goal of the season to give her team the 1-0 lead. 

Sophia Mastrosimone (14) scored her first goal of the season on Saturday.

“Kaylee [Martin] is a player that is dangerous in both defense and offense,” Williams said of her freshman after she tallied her second assist of the season, “With her knowledge of the game paired with her physical ability, she is hard to stop.”

Kaylee Martin (9) provided the assist for Cascade's lone goal against Cheatham County.

However, after conceding, Cheatham County ramped up the pressure against the Lady Champions. Much like the region championship against Huntland two days prior, Cascade had to find a way to navigate through an intense high-press while maintaining a clean sheet. The way that they found was through Irais Rojas in goal, as she not only kept her defensive backline engaged and in the right places, but she also made three more incredible saves to deny Cheatham County of sure goals. 

Irais Rojas (00) finished with 9 saves to preserve her 4th consecutive shutout.

“Irais has really stepped up in the last few games and saved us several times,” said Williams about Rojas, who posted her fourth consecutive shutout, all in the postseason. “It allows the other girls on the field to take chances knowing she is behind them.” 

“She has had that ability all season but I feel like she has turned it up in the postseason, and it shows.”

Thanks to the heroics of Rojas, the stellar defensive midfield play of Sophie Ray, and the solid defensive work from Kelsey Shatley and Ella Thompson along with Dalyce Bird, the five seniors took the reigns from the four freshmen in the last 20 minutes to preserve the 1-0 lead and punch their ticket back to Chattanooga for the state tournament.

Kelsey Shatley (7) wins another 50/50 ball against the Cubs on Saturday.

“It was a tough battle. Our girls were still sore and tired from Thursday's game but they, as they always do, pushed through and got the win,” Williams said. “We have some great senior leadership that motivated the team at half to keep pushing and they responded by turning up the heat in the second half.”

After last season ended with a 6-0 loss to Kingston, Williams thinks that the experience they garnered a year ago will help them for this season.

“We learned a lot about the level of competition at this level, so hopefully that will help us better prepare for our game this time,” she concluded.

This season, with Kingston on the other side of the bracket, Cascade’s tournament opener will be against CSAS – Chattanooga School of Arts and Sciences – at Baylor School in Chattanooga on Wednesday, October 23, at 4:00 p.m. ET. The winner advances to play the winner of Lakeland Prep vs. Westview the next day on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET in the semifinals, also at Baylor School. If Cascade finds a way to win both of those games, they would then play at Boyd Buchanan on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET for the State Championship.

Cheatham County’s season ends at 9-8 (5-0).

Cascade improves to 14-2-1 (8-0) and will play CSAS in the State Quarterfinals on Wednesday.