Source: Williamson Herald Sports
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Considering the enormous amount of goals that Maddie Padelski has scored in the past two seasons, there's virtually no way she can keep track of them all.
There's not much doubt, however, that she'll be able to remember the one she scored on Monday night. And so will the Nolensville High School fans.
In a high-stakes matchup between powerhouse programs, Padelski, the highly-decorated sophomore striker, produced the night's only tally when she found the net in the sixth minute of the second overtime period to lead Nolensville to a 1-0 victory over host Ravenwood in the Region 6-AAA semifinals.
"I am so pumped right now," said Padelski, who has notched more than 50 goals in her two seasons with the Lady Knights. "Ravenwood is a really good team — they've made it to state I don't even know how many times — but I am so proud of my team for stepping up tonight and taking this win. We came out here knowing what we needed to do. And we got it done."
The victory sends Nolensville into Wednesday's region championship game to face Independence. That game will be a rematch of last week's District 12-AAA final, when Indy pulled the upset over the regular-season district champs in a penalty-kick shootout.
Nolensville and Indy are both assured a spot in the Class AAA Sectional round, regardless of Wednesday's outcome.
"It's about continuing the journey," said Nolensville coach Eric Shelton. "This win tonight gives us at least two more games, and that was a big reward. … And as long as we play as hard as we played tonight, the results should take care of themselves."
For Ravenwood – the District 11-AAA champs and back-to-back state champions in 2019 and 2020 – Monday's outcome marked the end of the season, and prevented the Lady Raptors from putting together another deep postseason run that has been a routine occurrence in recent years.
"First and foremost, I am sad for the seniors," said Ravenwood head coach Jessica Mancini. "To go out this way is not my favorite — where all it took was one score and (Nolensville) happened to get it in the closing minutes of the game. But I am so happy that our seniors got to play their final game at home; that's a blessing for them. It was a great group of seniors and they are going to be missed, for sure."
When the postseason started, many fans expected Ravenwood and Nolensville to face off in the region finals instead of an elimination match. Instead, the pair of state qualifiers from a season ago met up a little sooner, although Monday's contest certainly felt like a title game.
As anticipated, the match-up was marked with great defense on both ends, and scoring chances were seldom for either team.
In fact, the lone goal of the night came on a scrambled play near the midway mark of the second overtime, when Padelski managed to find just enough of an opening to squeeze in the difference-maker.
"(On that play), Callie (Earls) crossed it in and it was coming to me, but one of my teammates headed it away — and I said, 'Noooo! Let me get it,'" said Padelski with a laugh. "And then I ended up heading it, too, and I volleyed it and turned around (and scored). Then I just took off running."
From there, the Nolensville defense kept Ravenwood off the board for the final four-plus minutes. When the final whistle blew, many of the Lady Raptors fell to the ground in a mixture of exhaustion and emotion.
Both head coaches said the intensity was just what they expected.
"Any time you play another Williamson County team at this stage of the postseason, it's going to be a state-tournament level game," said Shelton. "We knew Ravenwood is a quality team, but at the same time, we also believed in ourselves."
Both goalkeepers — Nolensville's CeCe Szopa and Ravenwood's Lexi Grundler — came up with big plays during the rare sequences when either team threatened. Szopa made a terrific stop in the 39th minute to keep the game scoreless at the half, and added another diving stop in the 58th to negate one of Ravenwood's best scoring chances.
Ultimately, the matchup came down to just one play, with Padelski making the most of her opportunity.
"Before the game, we talked about how this might be a game where you only get about three chances — and you have to finish one," said Shelton. "And sure enough, I think that was maybe our third or fourth chance to score and we were able to connect on that last one. Maddie has a way of being in the right place at the right time."
Nolensville faces Independence Wednesday night in the region final.