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Lady Indians stun Brentwood in soccer quarterfinal

CHATTANOOGA — Dobyns-Bennett led Brentwood, widely recognized as the No. 1 team in the state regardless of classification, by two goals with 14 minutes to play. Brentwood responded.

The Lady Indians led the Bruins, 17-1-1 prior to Wednesday’s TSSAA Class 3A quarterfinal at Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, after the first half of extra time. Again, the Bruins responded.

Tribe goalkeeper Lauren McInturff made sure the 2008 runners-up would not respond again. Back-to-back penalty shootout saves sent D-B into the state semifinals 4-3 on penalties following an epic 3-3 draw in front of a sparse, but jubilant, crowd at GPS.

“It was just an amazing game,” said Lady Indians coach Shane Calvert, in his final year with the program. “Our girls did what they’ve had to do all year long — fight to the bitter end. This is huge.

“Brentwood really wanted it, but so did we. So did we.”

Today’s match against Houston (4:30 p.m.) will mark the Lady Indians’ second consecutive appearance in the Final Four, a feat not accomplished in 15 years.

Bill McCloskey led D-B to three straight semifinals from 1993-95, the last trip ending with a state championship. This year’s group, featuring seven seniors, is hoping for a similar conclusion.

“That was just ridiculous, honestly,” McInturff said. “We would score, they would score. We would score, they would score. Somehow we pulled it out in the end.

“It just shows how much heart we have. Ever since preseason we’ve been saying we’re going to state. We want to contend, and that’s what we’re here to do.”

The diminutive, but ever-capable McInturff first denied Caroline O’Connell with a sharp stop to her right. The Tribe (18-3-1) had a chance to wrap up advancement via Kate Jones’ ensuing penalty. The always-reliable senior missed.

Jani Lakeman stepped to the spot knowing only a conversion would keep Brentwood alive. McInturff had other plans, however. The senior dove to her left to deny a shocked Lakeman, who crumbled to the ground as D-B players and coaches rushed the field.

“Coach always says you’ve just got to save one,” McInturff said. “Well, I got one. But the other keeper got one, too.

“The second (save), I just kind of knew. I knew she was going right. I actually thought another kick was coming. I didn’t think we had won it yet, but I’ll take it.”

The opening 15 minutes of play could be likened to a sparring session. Showing no signs of intimidation against the team that eliminated them at the semifinal stage a year ago, the Lady Indians wrested control of the half.

Jones was woefully unlucky on 29 minutes when her searing drive from 30-plus yards travelled through Brentwood keeper Savannah Shipman’s outstretched hand but onto the crossbar. She made up for the disappointment almost immediately, though, testing the Bruin keeper again from distance. This time, Shipman parried Jones’ shot back into play where Clark was well-placed to deposit into an open net.

Clark struck again five minutes into the second half to give the Lady Indians a shocking 2-0 margin. Her dipping volley from 25 yards, set up by a knock down from forward Gina Strickland, was sublime.

The Bruins seemed done at this point. Far from it, as it turned out.

Carly Overmyer extended Brentwood a lifeline after 66 minutes. It was soon followed by an equalizer, via Lucy Pater, which was the result of a poor D-B giveaway deep in its own third of the field.

Kenzie Maddox was the unlikely star in extra time. The D-B sophomore popped up in the center of the penalty area to finish off Amy Oreskovic’s crossing pass, her effort striking the crossbar and richocheting down over the goal line.

“This feels great,” Maddox said. “Amy had a really good cross. It came right to my foot.”

It appeared Maddox’s goal was going to stand up, too, until Brentwood unearthed a diamond of a goal with just five minutes remaining in the second half of the first extra time. Audrey Howard capped a brilliant counter with an even better individual goal, marauding past three Tribe defenders before slotting the ball past the on-rushing McInturff from 12 yards.

Fatigue set in the following two five-minute halves as neither side produced much. The show was then turned over to McInturff.

“We may not be the best team. We may not be the biggest team,” the keeper said. “But, man, we’ve got character. We have so much character, so much heart. We just want this so bad.”

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