MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Chattanooga Christian felt the agony of defeat three times Wednesday night against Alcoa in the first round of the Class A/AA state soccer tournament, but only the last one mattered.

When freshman Clark Holt’s shot glanced off the crossbar, it sealed the Tornadoes’ 6-5 edge in penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie against the top-ranked Chargers. Fourth-ranked Alcoa advanced to the semifinals of the tournament in its first appearance.

The Chargers avoided defeat in the second 10-minute overtime when Alcoa’s Matt Franklin nailed a shot as the buzzer sounded. After a challenge from the CCS coaches, the officials gathered and ruled that the shot hadn’t crossed the goal line before time expired.

“I thought after it appeared that they won, but we were given a second chance, that God is sovereign,” Chattanooga Christian coach Shawn Brower said.

The match went to penalty kicks. Alcoa keeper Daniel West made a diving save of an Adam Ryan shot, but with the score 4-3 and Alcoa’s Derrick Brodus coming up with a chance to seal the win, CCS sophomore keeper Josh Blomburg came up with a big save of his own to breathe new life into the Chargers.

“Josh had to make a play and he did,” Brower said.

Brower wasn’t happy with his team after a scoreless first half, getting into the players during his halftime speech.

“They were the biggest, most physical team we had seen,” Brower said. “We played their style in the first, and I told them if we did that, we weren’t going to win.”

His players responded, as Corey Nelson broke through to score a goal with 12:08 remaining in the second half, giving CCS (18-2-1) a 1-0 edge. The lead was short-lived, however, as Alcoa’s Eric Lusinger popped up a shot that barely sneaked between Blomburg’s hand and the crossbar two minutes later.

“We exceeded my goals and expectations this year,” Brower said. “People don’t realize this, but we’re a young team, and more than any district, region or sectional championship, I’m going to miss the time spent. These relationships are what’s lasting.

“Tomorrow will be a sad day because we’re not going to be doing life the same way.”

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