Briarcrest falls 4-1 to GPS for TSSAA Division II-AA title
The Briarcrest girls soccer team got the opportunity to compete in the TSSAA Division II-AA state championship Friday in Chattanooga, yet it was a match dominated by a player on the opposing squad.
Girls Preparatory School’s Sasha Carbone registered a hat trick, including two goals in the second half of the Bruisers’ 4-1 victory over the Saints at Red Wolves Stadium.
“They’re good,” said Briarcrest coach Alexis Heinz said. “They were doing pattern plays. You can tell they were a senior-heavy team.”
Carbone notched the overtime game-winner in Thursday’s 2-1 win against Hutchison at Chattanooga Christian.
“Sasha has a nose to score and combines well with her teammates,” GPS coach Patrick Winecoff said. “Her effort today after playing 95 minutes (in the semifinal) was courageous. Three class finishes from her sealed the deal.”
The Saints (13-2-2) played just over nine minutes without starting goalkeeper Abby Lankford, who left the match due to injury at the 56:09 mark. Ashbey Self filled in during that stretch, surrendering a goal to Kennedy Ball.
Needing a spark, Briarcrest got one in the 68th minute when Alyssa Tinsley scored a goal, with the assist being credited to Madeline Carter.
“The biggest thing that we have pushed since the end of last year was grit,” Heinz said. “No matter what, fight. So the fact that the girls were still going forward, they were still trying to create and they were still trying to find a way to get a goal – it was worth it.”
Ashley Wood led Briarcrest with four shots. The Saints were outshot, 2110. Ball and Hayden Wise each had two assists for GPS (14-2-1).