Signal Mountain junior Caroline Usrey stepped up on both ends of the soccer field Saturday afternoon while leading the Lady Eagles to a 3-1 home win over Murfreesboro Central in a TSSAA Class AA sectional.
Usrey provided the tying and go-ahead goals to help her program reach the state tournament for the ninth time in 10 seasons, and Signal Mountain continued an in-season surge that’s easily linked to her as well.
Since she returned from a concussion suffered in the season opener, a 2-0 loss to three-time reigning Division II-AA state champion Baylor, the Lady Eagles (13-5-2) have won 11 straight games. During the hot streak, Usrey has scored 13 goals and assisted on four others.
“Even though Caroline is our best scorer, we asked her to stay in the back for most of the game and not let their best player score and to cover her,” said veteran Signal Mountain coach Richard Northcutt, whose team fought back after allowing the game’s first goal in the 27th minute. “She did that last game for us, too, by marking the other team’s best scorer.
“Caroline is a back on her club soccer team. She is a really skilled defender, but she is also a fantastic scorer. She leads us in scoring this season and has scored a lot in her career.”