Lanter leads Lady Trojans back into state

Class AAA SectionalSODDY-DAISY 4, BLACKMAN 0Halftime score: 2-0. Goals: Summer Lanter 2, Miranda Smith, Natalie Smith. Assists: Lanter, Megan Weller. Shots on goal: Soddy-Daisy, 15-6. Saves: Haily Branham 11 (B); Baylee Burk 6 (SD). Records: Soddy-Daisy 18-2-3; Blackman 14-6-2.

Having played Blackman earlier in the season, the Soddy-Daisy soccer program knew what to be prepared for when the two teams battled Saturday evening.

So when the Blaze tried to attack them, the Lady Trojans were ready -- and ready to counter.

Summer Lanter finished with two goals and an assist, and ninth-ranked Soddy-Daisy advanced to its third consecutive Class AAA girls' state tournament with a 4-0 victory.

"We based our strategy on what they did the first time," Soddy-Daisy coach Moises Drumond said. "They were going to keep it crowded in the offensive third, so we planned to switch the ball around the back and stretched them out."

Lanter put the Lady Trojans (18-2-3) on the board in the 12th minute, assisted by Megan Weller, and Miranda Smith added another goal after Lanter's speed broke down the Blackman defense.

In the second half, Blackman had two dangerous corner-kick opportunities that were ultimately cleared by the Lady Trojans defense. In the 61st minute, Lanter got free and rifled a shot from about 20 feet past Blackman keeper Haily Branham, who started in place of Robin Bolme, who suffered a concussion against Siegel in the Region 4-AAA final.

Natalie Smith had Soddy-Daisy's final goal in the 74th minute.

"I'm proud of the girls," Drumond said. "Once they got to state a couple years ago, they wanted to continue the tradition, and they've worked hard to achieve it. We're fortunate to go to three straight."

Blackman (14-5-2) loses nine seniors.

"I thought the girls played great," coach Bill Vice said. "We knew Soddy-Daisy's strengths and our girls worked as hard as they can, but their two first-half goals were awesome.

"If those two corner kicks go in, it could be a different game. We haven't scored a lot of goals since the midseason, but the girls left it on the field and that's all you can ask."

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