Greeneville High School has had a number of great soccer teams over the years, but none of them could accomplish what this year's squad did.

The Lady Devils made history Saturday, becoming the first Greeneville soccer team to earn a berth in the TSSAA State Soccer Tournament.

Saturday's Sub-State showdown with Pigeon Forge at Burley Stadium was little more than a bump in the road to Chattanooga, with the Lady Devils running away 5-0 winners to book their trip.

"Oh, my gosh! Six chances over the years ... to have this opportunity to play at home and do what we did in the first five minutes, the girls just came out on fire," said Greeneville coach John Eiskamp.

The match wasn't over in the first five minutes, but the Lady Devils were well on their way. Allison McKee put the Lady Devils on the board in just the second minute, directing a Taylor Leng corner kick across the line. Caroline Lodge helped make it 2-0 in the fifth minute. Leng took a shot that was deflected, but Lodge was right where she needed to be to get the rebound and put it in the back of the net.

Leng got a goal of her own in the 13th minute, tapping in from short range after a low cross from Kaitlyn Horner to make it 3-0.

That's where the score remained through halftime, although Pigeon Forge didn't lay down.

Haley Doane had the Lady Tigers' best scoring chance of the day in the 24th minute when she struck a hard shot that Greeneville keeper Alyssa Crum had to dive for a one-handed save to keep out of the net.

With Crum in goal and Greeneville's back line of Bree Wilhoit, Brooke Miller, Katey Anderson and Sophie Lively, Pigeon Forge never truly threatened again.

"The defense played exceptionally well," Eiskamp said. "Everybody played well. We told them at halftime to stay focused that we needed some more goals, and we got them. The kids just did an awesome job."

Greeneville came out attacking in the second half with shots from Leng and Lodge. Marie Scott was solid in midfield for the Lady Devils, helping start a number of attacks.

She set up the Lady Devils' fourth goal. The Lady Devils got a great combination of passes between Scott, Lodge, Leng and Horner in the buildup before Becca Willett finished it off with a strike into the back of the net in the 54th minute.

The Lady Devils missed a couple of chances to extend their lead when Leng had what looked like a good goal disallowed and Lodge headed a corner kick off the crossbar.

Lodge did get a second goal in the 73rd minute, nailing a 30-yard free kick past the keeper to make it 5-0.

Lodge also had a good claim for a penalty kick denied when she was dragged down from behind in stoppage time, but it didn't matter because the Lady Devils were ready to celebrate making history.

"We have talked about the opportunities we've had in the past," Eiskamp said. "I told them after they game that they've made history for Greeneville High. They should be proud of that."

The Lady Devils (17-5-1) didn't get the greatest of draws in the first round of the state tournament. They play Page (21-0) at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the first match of the tournament at Chattanooga Christian.

Greeneville geared its non-conference schedule this year as preparation for the teams the Lady Devils could potentially face in the state tournament. Eiskamp believes that will have the team ready for what lies ahead.

"I think we have to refocus and think about the Beardens and the Oak Ridge teams that we've played," he said. "That's the caliber that we are going to see at the state level. Our kids have faced that this season, and I am hoping they are up for the challenge. I think they realize that the competition is going to be stiff."