Top-ranked Franklin up next in semifinals
By Jeff Keeling (Photos contributed by Bill Flere)
Science Hill’s soccer team cruised to a 4-1 victory over Cookeville in the state quarterfinals Tuesday night in Murfreesboro after building a 4-0 halftime lead.
At 21-0-1, the team will face Franklin, the state’s other unbeaten AAA team, in a 7 p.m. (Central Time) semifinal matchup. Franklin, ranked No. 1 in the state, blanked White Station in its quarterfinal tilt.
Topper senior Max Vaughn heads a ball out of Science Hill’s box in the team’s 4-1 victory over Cookeville. (Photo by Bill Flere)
The Toppers struck first just two minutes in as junior Javier Alberto scored after a run. Midway through the half, Lucas Altman converted a John Huffman corner kick for a 2-0 lead.
The Toppers continued dominating on both ends of the field, and several minutes after the second goal, a Jared Lady header off of a John Lucchesi throw in extended the margin to three.
Finally, just before the half Miller Franklin blasted a shot from the top of the penalty box to round out the first-half scoring. Keeper Grayson Garland had two saves in the first half for the Toppers and finished, unofficially, with 10 for the game.
Coach Brandon Kind’s squad full of underclassmen contributors is 80 minutes from its second trip in four years to the state championship game, which will be played Friday. On the other side of the bracket, Farragut downed John Overton 1-0 and Collierville defeated Riverdale 3-1.
