Dominating their two opponents by a combined 18-2 score, the Motlow Lady Bucks (12-2-1) won the TCCAA/Region VII Tournament championship and qualified for the Southeast District Championship game, and an opportunity to advance to the NJCAA national tournament.
Motlow routed Dyersburg State 12-0 in the tournament’s opening round, then beat Columbia State 6-2 in the championship game to win their second TCCAA tournament in only four years of competition. The tournament was held at Franklin County High School in Winchester. Motlow also won the regular season TCCAA by winning all five conference games by a combined 21-0 score.
“I couldn’t be happier for this team because I know how hard they work,” said Andy Lyon, Motlow head coach who started the program from scratch five years ago. “They play unselfishly and for each other. We get along well on the pitch and in the locker room. They’re just a pleasure to coach.”
Motlow will travel Thursday, Nov. 4, to South Georgia State College (12-1-1) in Douglas, GA and take on the Hawks at 1 p.m. CDT for the Southeast District Championship. The winner earns a bid to the NJCAA national championship at Daytona State College in Florida Nov. 15-20. South Georgia State is ranked #20 in the NJCAA national poll, while Motlow is listed in the Top 25. The Lady Bucks are ranked #11 in the United Soccer Coaches weekly rankings.
The Lady Bucks took home multiple awards in addition to the region tournament championship trophy. Lyon was named TCCAA Coach of the Year for the third time in the four-year history of the conference women’s soccer program.
Kristen Gasaway, who scored four goals and had three assists during the two tournament games, was named Most Valuable Player. Cheyenne Watson was voted the TCCAA Freshman of the Year. Named 1st Team All-TCCAA were Hayli Meeks, India Gaiten, Mally Horn, Madisen Hodges, Kaitlynn Wofford, and Watson.
Watson is tied for 16th in the nation with 15 goals, and 22nd in points with 33. Abby Tolbert is fifth in assists with 14, while Hodges is 11th with 10. Hodges is 13th nationally in shots and 24th in shots on goal. Meeks ranks 17th nationally in goalkeeper save percentage at .833 and is tied for 12th with nine wins.
Follow Motlow State athletics online at MotlowSports.com and the soccer team on twitter @motlowsoccer and on Facebook at Motlow State Soccer.
