TSSAA Spring Fling: MBA, CPA soccer lose in the state championship games

MURFREESBORO — Giles Cheevers was hoping his team would be able to stay in it. 

MBA was down within the first 11 minutes of the Big Red's Division II-AA state soccer championship game against McCallie on Thursday. Cheevers wanted to get into the halftime locker room to readjust.

The Blue Tornadoes scored their second goal with less than 10 minutes left until halftime. MBA could not recover as McCallie won 2-0, denying MBA its first state championship since 2015.

"Credit to (McCallie), they deserved it on the day and they were the better team," Cheevers said. "I think had we held it to 1-0 at the half, we might have been able to stay in the game. The second goal was an error at the back and it was a killer."

MBA was a different team in the second half. After McCallie controlled the midfield in the opening 40 minutes, the Big Red began to get their legs under them. MBA created more chances in the second half but could not find the back of the net. 

"We had a great season and I'm very proud of these kids," Cheevers said. "We'll try to come back stronger next year."

ECS denies CPA soccer two titles in school year

Tom Gerlach entered Thursday's Division II-A state championship game against Evangelical Christian School looking to sweep the boys and girls state soccer titles.

Back in October, Gerlach led the CPA girls soccer team to a state title when the Lady Lions defeated Chattanooga Christian 1-0.

ECS though, made sure Gerlach and CPA were not about to win both as the Eagles defeated CPA 3-0.

ECS scored all three goals in a 10-minute span in the first half. Gerlach will have work to do with his team heading into next season. The Lions graduate 12 players, seven of whom were starters. 

"I'm just going to enjoy being with these guys so I'm looking forward to that," Gerlach said. 

Reach Luis Torres at ltorres1@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @LFTorresIII.