The Lady Saints will be marching into the playoffs next week, their post season appearance coming after a 3-0 shutout of Smith County this past week.

The middle school soccer team will host the game this Monday against an opponent to be determined. The Lady Saints sat at 5-1-2 in the district, good enough for third place going into last night’s game against 8-0 and conference-leading Algood, meaning the Smithville club could be seeded either third or fourth Monday. A win in the first round would mean an immediate turn around for a game on Tuesday night.

Making it to the playoffs was a goal set by head coach Justin Nokes before the season began. The squad barely missed post season play last season.

“We were just one game from making the playoffs last year,” Nokes recalled of their 5-5 campaign in 2017. “We want to make that next step and get into the playoffs this season.”

The club was able to accomplish the goal thanks to six returning starters from last season and a strong defense.

The defense shined in their 3-0 white-washing of the visiting Smith County squad as they capped off their regular season home schedule. Raven Savage had two goals and Juana Godinez one in the win. Cassandra Garcia chipped in with two assists.

The night before their eighth-grade night victory over Smith County, the Lady Saints battled to a 1-1 draw against Overton County. Raven Savage accounted for the only Lady Saints goal with an assist from Kelbi Young. Overton sits in second place in the Upper Cumberland Soccer Conference with a 6-1-1 district record.