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Which Middle Tennessee soccer teams could win state titles at Spring Fling?





Spring sport state champions will be determined this month after the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the games in 2020.

Which area soccer teams have the best chance to win titles at Spring Fling May 25-28 in Murfreesboro?

Here are 10 Midstate squads to watch during the TSSAA postseason:

Class A

Local front-runner: Merrol Hyde (11-4-1)

Merrol Hyde hasn’t been to the state tournament since the program was formed in 2003. But the Hawks have been close, losing three sectional games from 2017-19. All four of their losses this spring were to Class AAA programs. Even with those defeats, the Hawks have outscored their opponents 68-14. Look for the team to finally break through to Murfreesboro this year.

Not far behind: Valor College Prep (12-2-1)

Valor College Prep could be another newbie in the Class A tournament. The school’s girls team earned its first state bid last fall before losing to Alcoa 3-2 in the quarterfinals. The Wildcats have kept up with their female peers by delivering an impressive 2021 campaign. Valor holds wins over Hume-Fogg, Ensworth and Antioch so far this spring.

Class AA

Local front-runner: Page (14-1-2)

Page appears to be rounding into form at just the right time. The Patriots captured the District 11-AA title last week with a 2-0 win over a strong Central Magnet team. Senior Grayson Dugan (15 goals, 6 assists) has been phenomenal in his return from an ACL injury, and junior goalkeeper Jack Gorman has conceded just nine goals all season. That balance could be enough to help Page get back to the state title game for the first time since 2017, when it finished second to Greeneville.

Not far behind: STEM Prep Academy (14-1-3)

STEM Preparatory Academy won its first trophy of any kind by defeating Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet in penalty kicks for the District 10-AA crown. The Chargers probably aren’t done, either. After fielding its first varsity team in 2017, STEM Prep has taken a major step forward this year by beating established programs like Houston, Smyrna and University School of Nashville. Senior Besu Zewude has scored a team-high 26 goals.

Class AAA

Local front-runner: Station Camp (12-0-6)

The Bison are regularly in the hunt for the Class AAA title. After winning back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018, Station Camp dropped the 2019 title to Bearden in penalty kicks. Coach Jeremy Cooke told Main Street Preps the 2020 Bison could’ve been the school’s best team yet. Don’t be surprised if this year’s team, led by 20-goal scorer and Belmont signee Cade MacLean, is left standing on the final day of the season.

Not far behind: Brentwood (14-2-2)

Brentwood last won a state title in 2012 despite trips to Murfreesboro in 2015, 2018 and 2019. Perhaps the Bruins can get back to that stage this spring if they top district rival Franklin one more time in the Region 6-AAA tournament. Brentwood outscored the Admirals 5-0 in two previous meetings and battled Station Camp to a scoreless tie back on March 16.

Division I-A

Local front-runner: Grace Christian Academy (18-1-1)

GCA is going to be a tough out in the state tournament. The Lions won the Class A title in 2019 and have continued their success in Division II this spring. GCA has outscored its opponents 117-16 with one loss to Grissom (Ala.) and a tie against CPA. Lipscomb commitment Malachi Jones leads the high-powered attack with 44 goals and 14 assists.

Not far behind: Christ Presbyterian Academy (11-4-1)

CPA must take the difficult route to Murfreesboro after losing to USN 2-1 in last week’s Middle Region semifinals. The Lions went 6-0 in district play and hung with GCA last month. Now they have to beat Christian Academy of Knoxville and St. George’s on the road to advance to the final four. But it’s hard to bet against a CPA team that has four finals appearances in the last five tournaments.

Division I-AA

Local front-runner: Montgomery Bell Academy (11-0)

The Big Red still feature six starters from their 2019 team that fell to McCallie 2-0 in the Division II-AA state championship game. That experience gives MBA a luxury most teams won’t have this postseason. The Big Red, who have allowed just three goals in 11 games, get a rematch with McCallie on Saturday with a spot in the final four up for grabs.

Not far behind: Father Ryan (6-5-3)

Father Ryan is probably a long shot in a bracket that includes Baylor, Christian Brothers, MBA and McCallie. But the Irish did beat Baylor 4-3 on March 20 and played well in a 1-0 loss to MBA on April 23. If Father Ryan can beat Memphis University School on Saturday, the Irish will be just one win away from their first finals appearance since 2013.

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