Good start for Lady Warriors in Div. II girls soccer playoff

KNOXVILLE — Christian Academy of Knoxville girls soccer darted out to an early lead in its Division II-A East Region quarterfinal match against Chattanooga’s Grace Baptist Academy on a rainy Saturday afternoon, Oct. 10. So Lady Warriors’ head coach Ried Estus took the opportunity to get some younger players some postseason action.

“We got up 3-0 in the first half and we were playing on a muddy and cruddy field, and the last thing you want is to have somebody turn an ankle,” Estus said after CAK notched a 3-2 victory over the Lady Golden Eagles. “I had two goals to play with, and when you have two goals to play with, I did what you do.”

With the victory, the Lady Warriors improved to 14-1-1 and advanced to the regional semifinals. CAK played Silverdale Baptist Academy Tuesday night, Oct. 13, after press deadline.

Against the Lady Golden Eagles, CAK got goals from Reece Campbell, Ainsley Patterson and Kendal Forrester.

The Lady Warriors are in the midst of a magical season. The only blemishes are a 3-3 draw against Farragut and a loss to Powell.

District crown versus Lady Rams

CAK won the Division II-A East Region District 1 title Thursday, Oct. 8, when it defeated Grace Christian Academy 2-0 at home.

A hard-fought match, that win against the Lady Rams came about a week after the Lady Warriors captured a 3-2 win in the schools’ annual regular-season showdown.

With the win in the district championship match, the Lady Warriors avenged last year’s title game to the Lady Rams. Lia Schreuder scored both of CAK’s markers late last week.

After both squads slugged through a scoreless first half, the junior midfielder tallied on a penalty kick in the 57th minute.

“We’re doing well. This was a tough game,” said Schreuder, who scored an insurance goal in the game’s final minute.

“But it’s great to see the girls playing well together and doing what we’re supposed to do.”

While Grace Christian coach Isaac Brooks lauded his side’s effort, he wasn’t happy with the results.

“We got them last year but we just couldn’t get them this year,” Brooks said. “We have a lot of new young girls playing out here this year.

“They’ve been training hard, but things just didn’t quite go our way tonight.”